Daniele De Rossi described how growing up watching a Diego Maradona-inspired Napoli team helped him make the switch to Argentina giants Boca Juniors.
Former Roma and Italy international De Rossi was officially presented as a Boca player on Monday in Buenos Aires.
After 18 years playing for Roma, De Rossi arrived last week to join the Argentine Primera Division heavyweights on a one-year deal.
De Rossi said the influence of Argentina legend Maradona and Nicolas Burdisso, a former team-mate at Roma and now Boca’s sports director, convinced him to sign for last season’s Copa Libertadores runners-up.
“What can I give here? I don’t know. I hope to give something to my team, to give something to my team-mates,” said the 36-year-old midfielder.
“Also, my goal is to be able to give them what I could give to the AS Roma team. I don’t come here to deliver heroic things, to achieve the goals like (Diego) Maradona and (Lionel) Messi.
“I come here to be a soccer player. I won’t add too much to Argentine soccer but I am sure that when I am in good shape, I will give something important to my team.”
