Heinze ready for Roma challenge

Gabriel Heinze says he is honoured to have signed for Serie A club Roma, and is ready for the challenge of playing in Italy.

The 33-year-old defender moved to the Italian capital after two seasons with Ligue 1 outfit Marseille and feels the transfer will be another test in his career.

“For me, wearing the jersey of Roma is an honour,” Heinze said. “I have (been) lucky enough to play in big clubs, now I have been given this new challenge and I did not hesitate for a second to say yes,” the ex-Manchester United man told Corriere dello Sport.

Stadio Olimpico side Roma are under new American owners and have ambitious plans of getting back into Scudetto contention, which has impressed their new signing.

“The project is ambitious and appealing; i Giallorossi have a good mix of experienced and young players.”

“(New signings) Bojan (Krkic) and (Erik) Lamela are great players who are hungry for success in Rome, which will help the whole group,” he continued.

Heinze will join fellow Argentine Nicolas Burdisso at the club, and would like to play in the centre of defence with his international team-mate, but also is happy to feature at left back.

“I’ve played with Nicolas many times in the national team and it has always gone well.”

“I will play where the coach asks me to play; it is he who decides, I have no problems. My goal is to win,” he concluded.

The arrival of Heinze is set to soften the blow of losing France international Phillippe Mexes to Serie A rivals Milan.