Cuadrado explains why he signed for Inter after leaving Juventus

Juan Cuadrado opened up about why he decided to join Inter following his eight-year spell with Juventus.

The 35-year-old Colombian winger’s contract in Turin was not renewed, so he became a free agent at the start of this month.

Inter announced today the arrival of Cuadrado on a one-year deal, understood to hold an option for a second. The veteran will reportedly earn around €2.5m net per season.

Speaking to Inter’s media department, Cuadrado first discussed his emotions after officially joining the club.

“I’m very happy, I thank God for this opportunity. It’s an honour for me to be here, at one of the biggest teams in Europe, I’m happy.”

He was asked about how it felt to become the fifth Colombian in Inter’s history, following in the footsteps of compatriot Ivan Cordoba.

“We’re very close, we talk often. When I was about to break his record for games played in Europe by a Colombian, we joked together, I told him I would never be able to beat it, but he fired me up telling me that we have I could have done.

“Then I was lucky because I played a lot of games, more than an idol, Ivan is a friend of mine, we talk often and I’m happy to be here, next to him.”

The 35-year-old spoke about why he decided to join the Nerazzurri.

“I had many offers, but Italy is a second home for me. My family is very attached to this country, there was the possibility of staying here with a great team, considering the history of this club.

“I chose Inter because we all know what they represent on a global level. The important thing is that my family and I are happy, we’ve had the opportunity to stay in what is home for us, it’ll certainly be the best choice.”

Finally, Cuadrado was asked what his defining characteristic is on the pitch.

“Happiness, I always try to do everything with a smile on my face. I like to show it on the pitch, I think it’s one of my most important characteristics.”

During his eight years with Juventus, Cuadrado appeared in 314 games across all competitions, helping the side win five Scudetti, four Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles.