New Inter Milan signing Nemanja Vidic was unveiled to the media on Friday after and the defender said he regrets not making the move to Italy a few years earlier.
“I should have arrived to Italy many years ago,” Vidic told the club’s official website. “Finally I have the opportunity to play here. I don’t think this is a step backwards in my career, I believe this is a step forward for me.
“Italian football suits my game well and, as I said before, I have joined one of the big European clubs. English football is different to Italian but that doesn’t mean that Italian is more simple.”
Vidic has signed a three-year contract with the Nerazzurri, who finished fifth in Serie A last season, and he is ready to help them return to winning ways in Italy and in Europe.
“Inter is one of the top clubs in the world, with a great history and tradition,” he said. “There was a new project in place and I immediately liked it.
“When Inter made an approach, there were many other clubs interested in me but not AC Milan. I’m happy to be here. I know the [club] president [Erick Thohir] has a long-term plan and he wants to keep Inter at a high level.”
Reports in Italy claim Vidic could be handed the captain’s armband after Inter’s long-term skipper Javier Zanetti retired last month. However, the former Manchester United captain says there is no truth in the speculation.
“First of all I have to earn a place on the pitch,” he said. “I’ve always given my best regardless of whether I have the captain’s armband.”
Vidic is aware he will have to adapt to the tactics of Inter coach Walter Mazzarri.
“Last year I was able to watch many Inter games and I’ve had the opportunity to get to know my new team,” he said. “I’ve never played in a three-man defence but the role of a defender remains the same whether you play with three or four in the line.”
