In all honesty, when a manager like Rafael Benitez wants you and insists that you join him, you can be nothing but very proud, and you want to join him.

The factor was that he is one of the very best managers in the world. And when one of the best managers calls you and tells you he wants you to be part of his team, you know he will really push you to be your very best and, in part, it is thanks to him that I signed here.

He was well aware of my abilities and spoke about what I would be able to achieve here in England. He said that the Premier League is the best in the world, that it is very physical and intense, and if I came to work with him I’d be able to achieve my personal goals.