Guangzhou Evergrande signing Alessandro Diamanti is determined to keep his place in Italy's World Cup squad.
Diamanti left Bologna last month for the Chinese giants.
"It was a lifestyle choice," he told Sky Sport Italia and Radio Deejay. "My wife is Chinese and I wanted to deepen my knowledge of this culture. Plus I'm from Prato and there is a huge Chinese community there.
"Lippi really wanted me there and I am joining a club that won everything this year. I go with a great deal of enthusiasm.
"Clearly I am also going to get paid very well, but what really interested me was a new experience. My priority was to challenge myself all over again in a new environment."
For breaking stories and all the great banter like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tribalfootball