New Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira insists it is a great honour to join the Italian champions and defended Serie A against negative criticism.
The Germany international ended a five-year association with Real Madrid by moving to the Champions League finalists and addressed the media for the first time as a Juventus player at Vinovo on Wednesday.
He said: “There are few clubs on the level of Real Madrid but Juventus are one of them. This is a great club with great fans and to know that I am playing at a club where guys like Pirlo, Baggio, Del Piero, Platini and Zoff played, it fills me with pride. I promise to give my best.
“There was no problems for me at Real. I spent five wonderful years there but I needed a new challenge and that is Juve, who have played at the top for many years. I asked Morata about the club but by then, I had already decided to join.
“I don’t believe Italian football is in a negative phase. I chose to come here because the image abroad does not reflect this. It is a difficult league to play in, especially tactically.”
Khedira also confirmed he will wear his lucky number 28 jersey, which he wore at Stuttgart, in Turin and denied that he has heard from compatriot Mesut Ozil about joining him at Juventus Stadium.
