BUENOS AIRES, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Former Italy international midfielder Daniele de Rossi said Friday that he has fulfilled a dream by joining Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
De Rossi signed a one-year contract on Friday, a day after he received a hero's welcome by hundreds of Boca fans upon his arrival at the Ezeiza international airport in Buenos Aires.
"My heart is Roma, but I've really liked Boca since I was a boy," the 36-year-old said in a video posted on Boca's official Twitter account.
"For [Diego] Maradona, for the stadium, because I love the stadium, I love the fans, who are passionate. It's a club founded by Italians that has made me feel at home, a big club, one you can believe in.
"I'd love to go to America, but to climb those stairs, go out into the Bombonera with the Boca players... that would be a pleasure. The most important thing in life is to be able to achieve all your dreams. Thank you, Boca."
In addition to being long-time Boca fan, De Rossi was encouraged to make the move by the club's director of sport and former Roma teammate Nicolas Burdisso.
De Rossi was released by Roma in May after making his 616th and final appearance for the club in a 2-1 home win over Parma. He later said that he still "feels like a player" and wanted a "new adventure".
He was capped 117 times for Italy and was a part of the Azzurri team that won the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
De Rossi took part in a Boca training session on Friday and could play in the club's opening Superliga Argentina fixture against Huracan at La Bombonera on Sunday.
