Brahim Diaz says he had no choice but to leave Manchester City to join Real Madrid after completing his switch to the European champions.
The Spanish midfielder completed a move to the Bernabeu on Sunday, with Los Blancos paying an initial £15.5million.
Diaz had been with City since 2013, joining from Malaga at the age of 14, but had found first-team opportunities in short supply under Pep Guardiola once more this term.
And speaking at his unveiling on Monday, where he stood alongside Madrid president Florentino Perez, Diaz admitted it was the culmination of a childhood dream.
“This is the happiest day of my life, I couldn’t have a better gift for Three Kings Day [Jan. 6 in Spain],” said the 19-year-old.
“I had three options after deciding to leave Manchester City.
“One, play at Real Madrid, two, play at Real Madrid and three, play at Real Madrid. It was impossible to go anywhere else.
“I have dreamt of playing for this club since I was a boy. I understand the responsibility of playing with this shirt. I will give everything from the first day.”
“When I decided to leave Manchester City I contemplated three options.
The first was to play at Real Madrid, the second was the play atReal Madrid and the third was to play at Real Madrid.I didn’t want to go anywhere else.” Brahim Diaz
[@marca] pic.twitter.com/raKluYtcr4— Real Madrid CF (@realcf_bernabeu) January 7, 2019
Madrid president Florentino Perez, who handed Diaz a six-and-a-half year deal, said: “Brahim has a special talent.
“He has quality, magic and dreams of succeeding at this club. He chose it above others and that energy will help [him].”
Perez also refused to rule out more arrivals this month, stating: “We are always looking to reinforce our squad.”
Madrid are currently fifth in La Liga and were beaten 2-0 by Real Sociedad on Sunday, with pressure rising on manager Santiago Solari.
Following intense transfer speculation, coupled with his contract with Manchester City due to expire in June 2019, Díaz has joined Real Madrid on 6 January, for a transfer fee of £15.5 million (€17 million). His contract, which rans until 2025, also included potential add-ons, which could see the value of the transfer to rise to £22 million (€24 million). The transfer also included clauses which stipulated a 15 per cent sell-on fee to be received by City, which would rise to 40 per cent should Díaz depart Madrid and transfer to “another Manchester club”.