Q: How did the offer to play for Delhi Dynamos come about and what made you agree to it?
A: I had an offer from Delhi this summer, and I had another offer from a different club in Europe. But I chose this (ISL) because I have some friends who played last season in the Indian Super League and they told me that it is a good league, a good level, and I thought it is going to be a really good experience for me, to play abroad again. I played one year for Brentford (in 2014-15) in the Championship league in England, and it was quite a good experience. So I wanted to change again, and to relive this experience.
Q: In recent years, Spain has come across as a superpower in world football. What has been the key reason behind this?
A: I don't know. I have played for many teams in Spain, and I started playing for the Real Madrid academy. When I was young, I played for 12 years for them. Then I played for the Real Madrid first team again. After that I signed for Girona, in the second division in Spain. I played for them for three years, and after that I signed for Almeria in the first division of Spain. I played for them, and it was a good experience, because my entire life I wanted to play in the first division in Spain, which is the most important league in the world, I think. You get to play with the best teams in the world like Real Madrid and Barcelona, and good stadiums and good atmosphere -- it's quite nice.
I wanted to change and go to the Championship, and to try out in England which has a very good league as well. Then I came back to Spain, played for another second-division team. And then I had this offer and I wanted to come here.
Q: What are your first impressions of the Delhi team?
A: I think the level is quite good. We are training hard to get fit for the first game of the league. I think (coach Gianluca) Zambrotta hasn't got much experience as a manager, but he's doing a good job with us. We are improving, from the first day that I trained with them, I think the Indian players are growing up very quickly. I think we are going to be a very strong team.
Q: Coming from Europe, the heat and the humidity will be two things all foreign players have to cope with. How have you adapted thus far?
A: Yeah, it's so hard. We went to do the first stage of pre-season in England and Sweden, and the weather was quite good to train. Then we came here (to Delhi) and it's hard. The first day, we were in the dressing room and we just stepped out and we started sweating even before training! So it's hard to get used to this atmosphere and this weather for foreign players.
Q: How much about India did you know before you headed out?
A: I followed the league the last two years, because I had friends who had played here. I knew Borja Fernandez from Atletico de Kolkata, and I knew Joffre, who is playing in Goa this year. They told me it's a good league, a good level, and the atmosphere at the stadium is so big. The supporters are so enthusiastic, and I think it's going to be a really good experience.
Q: What do you like to do outside of football?
A: Well, I'm quite a normal person. I like to go to the cinema, to read books, and to be with my friends and my family. I don't know (yet) what I am going to do after football, with my life, but I think I'm going to be (into) something which involves football.
Q: Your favourite city in the world?
A: London. London is quite a nice city. I lived there for one and a half years, and I really enjoyed. I don't think it is the best city to live (for a long time) but for a while, it was good.
Q: Ronaldo or Messi?
A: Messi. I think he's the best player in the world. I think he's the best player in history too. It's a joke, when you see him play. He makes everything look so easy. If he can score, he can also assist. Very complete player.
Q: If Messi is to play in England -- like rumours linking him with Manchester City -- how easily do you think he would make that adjustment? Would it be a bit difficult?
A: Nah, I don't think so. I think Messi belongs to Barcelona. He's very good with the team, with his teammates. He's the star, and I don't think he's going to change Barcelona with Man City.
Q: How do you see this year's La Liga title race shaping up - Real Madrid have made a good start.
A: Yeah, this year, I think Real Madrid have started really good, as have Barcelona. I think they (Barca) have lost one game against Alaves, but Real Madrid-Barcelona is going to be a really big fight. Every year it's the same. Maybe the momentum is with Madrid this year, but it's going to be good.
Q: Spain had a bit of a dip in the last World Cup and the Euros. Do you see that as a natural dip because of all the recent success?
A: It's hard sometimes to keep the level high. When you win everything, it is like Real Madrid this year - they have to focus on the league, because they haven't won it in the last six years. I think they have to focus on the league and try to get the league again.
Q: ISL has a number of matches in a short span of time. As a player, how does that affect your preparation?
A: For me, that's important that the pre-season must go well. We have to work hard, to get fit as soon as possible. We have to get to the first game of the season on October 6 in as good shape as we can. When you're in the league, you can't train. It's basically game-travel-game-travel, and that's how it will be all of the time. It's going to be a really hard season, because I have never really played that type of season.
Q: What can one expect from Delhi this season?
A: Well, I think they're going to enjoy our team play. I think (our strategy is) to have the ball. We're working to improve on keeping the ball, and being aggressive with it. We want to be an attacking team.