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Cape Town - Mathieu Flamini is looking forward to the "interesting challenge" that awaits him following his move to Crystal Palace on Thursday.
The former Arsenal and AC Milan player, who joined the Eagles on a free transfer, says he chose the club over a number of other options and is excited by the "ambitions" of the team.
Speaking after joining up with his new teammates, the 32-year-old told the club's official website he was ready to give his all to the Palace cause.
He said: "I had (lots) of different opportunities, but for me Crystal Palace is a great challenge. It's a very stable club, a very ambitious team, with great players and I had a chance to meet the manager also, and that made the difference.
"He told me I will have to fight for my place, I'm part of a very good team and also an ambitious group. He was telling me he's counting on me, he wants me to take the lead in that team and to be a part of it as soon as possible.
"As I said before: it's a very interesting challenge, it's a very stable club and the owners have very ambitious objectives, which means it's very exciting."
Flamini is hopeful his experience will help Palace in their aims this season while admitting his best position is just in front of the defence.
He added: "I will do everything to bring that experience in to the team as soon as possible and I'm very excited to start playing next to my teammates.
"I'm (used to) playing in front of the back four and my role is to protect the defence, so I focus on when the team is winning the ball - that has been my role for a while."
The former Arsenal and AC Milan player, who joined the Eagles on a free transfer, says he chose the club over a number of other options and is excited by the "ambitions" of the team.
Speaking after joining up with his new teammates, the 32-year-old told the club's official website he was ready to give his all to the Palace cause.
He said: "I had (lots) of different opportunities, but for me Crystal Palace is a great challenge. It's a very stable club, a very ambitious team, with great players and I had a chance to meet the manager also, and that made the difference.
"He told me I will have to fight for my place, I'm part of a very good team and also an ambitious group. He was telling me he's counting on me, he wants me to take the lead in that team and to be a part of it as soon as possible.
"As I said before: it's a very interesting challenge, it's a very stable club and the owners have very ambitious objectives, which means it's very exciting."
Flamini is hopeful his experience will help Palace in their aims this season while admitting his best position is just in front of the defence.
He added: "I will do everything to bring that experience in to the team as soon as possible and I'm very excited to start playing next to my teammates.
"I'm (used to) playing in front of the back four and my role is to protect the defence, so I focus on when the team is winning the ball - that has been my role for a while."
