AS Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi says he deserved a new contract.

It was announced on Tuesday that De Rossi, 35, will leave at the end of the season.

“I want to play and there's a minimal difference of opinion between us, but I don't have a grudge with anyone," he said at his press conference.

“I'll talk to the President one day. I also don't have any problems with Franco Baldini. I imagined myself bandaged up and them asking me to continue playing.

“It didn't happen that way, but I have to accept it and move forward. If I'd been a director, I'd have renewed the contract of a player like me.

“I did well when I played well and resolved issues in the dressing room. If I was a good director, I'd have renewed my own contract, but I can't do anything now.

“The fans have shown how much they love me through the years. I made the same choice in return.

“I didn't change them for some hypothetical cup that you don't know you'll definitely win if you leave.

“There were three or four years when I had the opportunity to go to teams that were supposed to win more than Roma, but we chose each other and it would've been a tragedy if I said I'd have preferred to go elsewhere or if the fans said, 'what are we doing with De Rossi? We'd prefer Iniesta and prefer to win more.'

“I still have true love for the club, and I think it'll continue in different forms. I won't rule out that in the coming years, they'll see me sneak in with a sandwich and a beer to cheer for my friends."