LA Galaxy's Romain Alessandrini is enjoying life in Los Angeles after following in the footsteps of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane by joining the "best club" in Major League Soccer.
Alessandrini was tipped to have a great career in his native France after switching from Rennes to hometown club Marseille in 2014 but inconsistency and injury ruined his time at the Stade Velodrome.
"To go from Gueugnon to Los Angeles is something extraordinary. If I'd have been told that at the start, I would have certainly signed for it immediately," Alessandrini, who has featured in the Galaxy's opening three MLS fixtures of the season, told Canal Football Club.
"The city is extraordinary. It's sunny almost every day. The Galaxy is the best club in the country, five titles since the start of the MLS. There are some great names that have come through here: Beckham, Gerrard, Keane ... I hope I will also mark the history of the LA Galaxy."
Alessandrini, who scored just eight league goals in 54 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille, had a fractious relationship with coach Marcelo Bielsa during his first season, but doesn't regret his actions.
"I said out loud what a lot of other players thought," he said. "The fans only saw the results on a Sunday, so of course it was nice, but during the week it was difficult.
"After that, he left us one or two weeks after the start of the [2015-16] season, and of course a lot of things came out. I was criticised a bit, but I don't regret anything."