Lucas Leiva says Lazio was always his first choice following his move last month.

The former Liverpool midfielder is effectively the replacement for Lucas Biglia, who has moved to AC Milan, and was presented to the media today.

“I am very honoured to be here and was given a warm welcome by the squad. I've been in Rome for only a few weeks, but found a group that is very supportive and helpful," said the Brazilian in his Press conference.

“I chose to come to Lazio above many other offers. I have the chance to play in Europe here and many players spoke highly of the environment. After many years in England, I chose to come to Italy and will do all I can to impress.

“In recent weeks I've seen that there are differences in the way the playmaker role is treated. It is more tactical here. I speak regularly with the Coach and my teammates. Experience is helpful and I hope to understand these differences quickly.

“I hope to have the same success here as I did in England. My challenge is to get good results. My grandfather always spoke about Italy, it's a good opportunity not only to play, but to get to know a new culture too.

“Rafa Benitez was very important for me at Liverpool, teaching me a lot about tactics. Kenny Dalglish was like a father to me. Jurgen Klopp was intense and asked a lot of his players.

“Simone Inzaghi really encourages his players and knows how to improve them, which is also important. I was sad to leave friends behind in Liverpool, but the lads really helped me feel at home here. It's a very warm atmosphere."