Gabriel Paulista is delighted with his move to Atletico Madrid.

The veteran defender joins Atletico on a free transfer after terminating his contract by Valencia by mutual consent.

Gabriel said: "It is a new challenge for me, for my family, but with an incredible feeling of being able to be with this shirt, which is a very big shirt.

“It was an offer from a big club in Europe. That has been a source of pride for me, to be able to awaken the interest of great teams. It's impossible to think about something like this twice.

“They have a very passionate fan base, which pushes a lot, and now that I'm here I hope to feel it from within, because it is my new home. The short time I have been in this club I have already seen that people are very loving, that people try to help as much as possible. I will also try to help everyone on the field.

“I am going to continue maintaining what I have been doing so far this season. I hope to improve what I have to improve, what the coach asks of me. Work a lot. On the field I am going to fight until the final minute. I know that I am on a team with players with a lot of drive."

On Diego Simeone, he added: “He is a coach who plays with the team and that helps the players a lot, and I am prepared to meet him in person. To see how he really works, to see what he is like. To see his way of being within the games."