Juan Cuadrado admits he was desperate for a return to Italy after Chelsea and Juventus will be “at the top.”
The Colombian spent just six months in London following a January transfer from Fiorentina, but returned to Serie A on loan and is expected to make it permanent.
“The idea of coming back to Italy attracted me a lot,” he told UEFA.com.
Juan Cuadrado admits he was desperate for a return to Italy after Chelsea and Juventus will be “at the top.”
The Colombian spent just six months in London following a January transfer from Fiorentina, but returned to Serie A on loan and is expected to make it permanent.
“The idea of coming back to Italy attracted me a lot,” he told UEFA.com.
“I know the football here, I know the language and the people, and the truth is it feels like my second home. So when I had to decide about whether to take this chance or not, I talked to my agent every day about my return. And now I am very happy to be here at Juventus.
“When you already know the language and the people then it makes it a lot easier for you. And there being a lot of players from South America in the team – that also helps.
“Coming to the team was no problem, it's a great team with great players and great personalities, and they really embraced me in the best way possible.”
Cuadrado had first come to Italy for Udinese in 2009, so has spent most of his career in the Peninsula.
“It was difficult to leave my family, my friends and actually almost everything behind. But it was always something I'd had in mind.
“You have to make sacrifices in life and this is what I had dreamt of since I was a boy, to play in Europe. It was a nice opportunity for me and I had to take advantage of it.
“When I came here it wasn't easy and at Udinese there was a lot of competition for places. I didn't play much. But everywhere I have been, I have always thought that having made it to Europe, I could not return. I want to be a great footballer in Europe.
“Fiorentina really helped my development. Playing in Europe means a lot of tactics and that took me a while to get used to, but you have to improve day in, day out.”
Juventus reached the Champions League Final last season, so with Cuadrado in the side can they repeat that?
“We all know that Juventus are a big club. We are a strong team, we can be competitive and we are right up there. But we must take it match by match and make sure we make the next round.
“It has always been important for Juventus to be at the top and I am convinced that this great team can achieve that.”