Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi has admitted that he considered quitting the Italian side in January.
The 28-year-old was linked with a move to Manchester City last month, but penned a new five-year contract with Roma after much consideration.
"What drives me to stay here, to do my job with so much passion is this team, this city and its people. What I desire is here. The negotiations have been lengthy and I cannot deny that I had doubts," said De Rossi.
"I thought of many things, of alternatives and I spoke to many people during this time. I wanted to stay only if I was welcomed by the fans ... There was also the thought of ambition, the idea of playing somewhere else, to face the top teams in the world, not that we don't have that possibility here.
"Those things fascinated me and I did speak to other clubs. I was very tempted to see if I had the strength to play elsewhere. But in the end I made a choice not just of the heart but of the head."
De Rossi has made 375 appearances for the Italian club.
Matt Law
