When I moved from Independiente to Atletico Madrid, I was only 18, and I found it hard to adapt. But what surprised me most about moving to England was how fast the game was. I like it, but it is so quick.
I was at Arsenal as an 11-year-old. I really enjoyed it but I was at school and my dad used to drive me there after work. Sometimes we were in traffic for two hours. They wanted to keep me but I wasn't getting home until nearly 11 P. M. I loved it there but it wasn't right, so I came to West Ham and haven't looked back.
It's difficult to understand someone leaving Barca, with the best players in the world.
For any footballer who plays for Real Madrid in the modern era, the prospect of leaving the club must feel like a step down no matter where they go - but it does not have to be like that.
If one day I leave Arsenal, I will never sign for another English team. Quite sure.
After my debut as a pro for Groningen, I was at Eindhoven for two years.
When you've played at Manchester United, it's hard to go anywhere else.
If I was a normal player at West Ham and wanted to join a Chinese club, nobody would have said anything. But since I was a leader at West Ham and thought about that offer, I was suddenly a bad man.
When I left Arsenal I never said I didn't like England. I was very young and my problems were all in my head.
I'm very happy to have been a one-club man, but I wouldn't shoot down guys who have gone off and played in multiple clubs either because, essentially, it is an earning that people are after.
Leaving Manchester United? That was not complicated.
Leaving a club like Real and coming to as big a club as Manchester United makes you grow as a player and helps you progress in your career.
Milan, I was surrounded by great players; it wasn't the same at City.
There is no denying that the English league is perfect for me, but there are nice clubs elsewhere, too.
When I left Carlisle United for the first time at the age of 16 in 2000, I hated football.
When you have played for Manchester United, it is difficult to go elsewhere.
