Gomez excited by attacking Fiorentina

Mario Gomez has revealed Fiorentina’s attacking style of player under Vincenzo Montella was crucial to his decision to join the Serie A club.

Bayern Munich confirmed their sale of Gomez to Fiorentina on Monday and the 27-year-old striker, who scored 113 goals in 174 games for the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League title-holders, said he was excited to join Montella’s revolution in Florence.

Fiorentina had finished 11th, ninth and 13th in the three seasons before Montella took over as their head coach in June last year but the former Roma striker led the club to fourth in his opening campaign.

The men in the famous purple shirts scored more goals than every other Serie A side, apart from second-placed Napoli, last season and Gomez wants to be a part of it.

“I knew that should I leave Bayern I was going to go abroad,” Gomez said on Monday.

“And I knew as well that I was going to move south, Italy and Spain being the options.

“When I got in touch with Fiorentina I had a good feeling straight away, something not understandable for many possibly, but I am looking forward to it as Fiorentina are playing some good football and their style of play is very offensive.”

Gomez fell behind Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic in the striking pecking order at Bayern last season and with the Bavarian club expected to add Borussia Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski to their squad sooner or later, further demotion seemed likely.

With the World Cup finals in Brazil looming, Gomez believed he was better off leaving Bayern and finding a new employer where he would be guaranteed game time.

Montella does not have many options to play as a lead striker at Fiorentina and Gomez, who has scored on average a goal every other game over the past seven seasons, should thrive in front of a midfield including Stevan Jovetic, Alberto Aquilani, Borja Valero and David Pizarro.

“Of course it is difficult leaving the best club in the world but I love football and I wanted to get more time on the pitch,” Gomez said.

“That’s why I made this move.

“I am happy and grateful for having been here.

“It is due to Bayern that my biggest wish as a footballer came true; winning the Champions League.”

Fiorentina has reportedly agreed to pay Bayern 16 million euros for Gomez.