Valencia defender Jeison Murillo is happy to be out of Serie A.

Murillo left Inter Milan for Valencia last summer.

He told AS: “I received the call that I had been sold and was going to Italy. From one day to the next. I remember that when I returned home, my mother was crying. I was about to tell her, but she'd already been alerted. I couldn't believe it.

“I had no idea. I went to Nigeria for a youth tournament and when I returned, my life had already changed. I didn't even know they were negotiating with Udinese.

“Naturally, the dream of every South American boy is to play in Europe, but I was 18 years old and found myself alone in a new country. These are the sacrifices you must make in this profession.

“Eventually, I was only in Udine for medical tests and then immediately sent out on loan to Granada. That was better for me, as I spoke the language and in Spain could get a European passport.

“Italian football helped me grow tactically a great deal, as that is essential for a defender. In Spain there are more spaces, more one-against-one situations, and my characteristics help me with that."