Legendary Juventus captain and Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini flew to Los Angeles on Wednesday to complete his move to MLS leaders Los Angeles FC, beginning an “exciting new chapter” in his stellar career.

As the defender was unveiled in Los Angeles, LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington could not contain his excitement.

“He is a coach’s dream, he is a club’s dream. We have never seen a player like him in our league,” said Thorrington, heaping praise on the 37-year-old Serie A champion.

Also read | Matthijs de Ligt could join Chelsea if all parties ‘satisfied’: Juventus CEO

For Chiellini, however, humility was the order of the day, and the Italian went on to praise LAFC’s current line-up, questioning his own place in the team.

“I want to be honest. When I start to see the team, I said, they have fantastic defenders; why’d they call me?,” said the Italian in fluent English.

“Everyone talks about Mamadou Fall, but I can say Jesus Murillo, [Sebastien] Ibeagha, who played the last matches and also on the wing – LAFC has fantastic defenders and it’s a fantastic team. Surely I can help them. I can help the team, not just playing, but leading every day the group, and this is my game and what I think. But I have fantastic teammates, and this is important,” the 37-year-old added.

Also read | ‘It’s like coming home’: Romelu Lukaku completes loan move to Inter Milan

Chiellini, who has been studying LAFC footage to learn their style of play, also went on to highlight how he aimed to contribute to a side that was already on the top of the table of the Western Conference of the MLS.

“I said that LAFC is the perfect team for me for the organization, but also in the team because it’s full of young players. I think they can help me. Surely it’s impossible for me to have the same physical characteristics like 10 years ago, but I can bring also something to them, and we have to create a good mix with experience, with enthusiasm, with younger players in order to become a winning group,” the Azzurri legend explained.

Also read | Everton forward Richarlison teases rumoured move to Tottenham Hotspur

Indeed, with nine Serie A titles and three Serie A Defender of the Year awards, Chiellini brings a sort of elite experience to LAFC that the club has never had.

Quizzed about whether he was excited to be in Los Angeles, a beaming Chiellini said, “Los Angeles is a fantastic city. I am very curious to live because I went here on holiday about 10 years ago. We take a Mustang cabriolet [convertible] and go over all of California.”

“Now it’s totally different. I have two daughters and I want to discover California in another way,” the Italian added with a smile.