AS Roma winger Carles Pérez says he isn't looking back at Barcelona.

Perez has joined Roma on an initial loan with a permanent option included.

"I come from a great club, but Roma doesn't seem like a step back for me, no way. It's a bigger step, to come out of my comfort zone and show what I am worth," explained Perez, 21.

"I changed country, this is a challenge and I'm loving it. I've always seen Roma as a big club. I decided to come because the coach called me (Paul Fonseca), for how he spoke to me, for the confidence he gave me that here I could do something important.

"I want to grow here, to be important for Roma. Barcelona is my past and Roma is my present. I signed for four and a half years and my idea is to stay here."