Inter Milan midfielder Thiago Motta is proud to be playing for Italy.

The midfielder was born in Brazil, but his Italian ancestry allows him to play for the country where he now resides.

"I've always said, ever since I arrived in Europe, that I wanted to play for Italy," he maintained to Inter Channel.

"For Italy or no one - I'd have stayed at home and rested otherwise. It was my dream to play for the Italian national side and I've realised it.

"I played for Brazil at youth level with people like Maicon and Maxwell, but I answered the call-ups out of duty when I lived back there.

"I haven't wanted to play for Brazil since I arrived in Europe."