Madrid, Sep 3 (IANS): Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba said that the Catalan football club was "spot on" with the signing of striker Paco Alcacer, who he has known since he was 16 years old.

Alcacer was signed from Valencia for a transfer fee of around 30 million euros ($33.4 million). The 23-year-old joined Barcelona for five seasons.

Barcelona were in search mode for a back-up option for the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Lui Suarez and Neymar and landed Alcacer, who has a proven track record in La Liga.

"I see Paco Alcacer very calm and excited. I've known him since I was 16, he's a good friend of mine," Efe quoted Alba as saying at a news conference.

"He's a player with a lot of goals, he will work hard and Barcelona were spot on to sign him," he added.

Alcácer becomes the first striker signed this summer by Luis Enrique's team following defenders Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne, midfielders André Gomes and Denis Suárez and goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to the Catalan giants.