Diego Godin "eager" for Atletico Mineiro challenge-Xinhua

Diego Godin "eager" for Atletico Mineiro challenge

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-01-16 11:17:15

BELO HORIZONTE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay international defender Diego Godin said Saturday that he is hungry for silverware as he prepares to begin a new chapter of his distinguished career with Brazilian Serie A champions Atletico Mineiro.

The 35-year-old agreed to a one-year contract earlier this month after parting ways with Italian Serie A side Cagliari by mutual consent.

"It's a new challenge that brings different emotions," Godin told reporters upon his arrival at Belo Horizonte.

"I'm very eager to keep learning. It's been a long time since I last played [at club level] in South America. I have a lot of desire and ambition to give my best.

"Atletico have just won the Brazilian Serie A and the Copa do Brasil titles. The club has ambitious plans and aspires to have even more success. That's what made me decide to come here and I hope to contribute the best I can to help the team win matches and trophies."

Capped 153 times for Uruguay, Godin made 40 appearances across all competitions for Cagliari following his September 2020 move from Inter Milan.

Godin is Atletico's third new signing so far this year following the arrivals of forwards Ademir Santos and Fabio Gomes.

He will be a direct replacement for Paraguayan defender Junior Alonso, who last week left Atletico to join Russian Premier League outfit FC Krasnodar.