New Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan said that he had been inspired by his late father after becoming the first Armenian to join the Premier League.
Mkhitaryan’s move to United from Borussia Dortmund was confirmed on Wednesday, with the 27-year-old signing a four-year deal with the option for an additional year.
The attacking midfielder is captain of the Armenia national team, who his father represented before passing away at the age of 33 after a brain tumour in 1996.
The new United player began his career as a professional footballer 10 years later as a 17-year-old and, having been the top assist maker in the Bundesliga last season, he is promising that he can get even better.
Mkhitaryan told MUTV: “When he passed away, my dream came, to be a football player. I was thinking to continue his job, what he has done. Hopefully I am on my way.
“I think, to look back, maybe I did a very long wait to come here. But, to me, this is not the highest point I can reach. I think I can go further.”
He said that the presence of Jose Mourinho was influential in his decision to sign and he is looking forward to seeing Adnan Januzaj, who was on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season.
“It [Mourinho’s presence] was one of the factors why I chose Manchester [United] but also the team because it is one of the biggest clubs in the world so I couldn’t reject this offer and I’m very pleased to be here,” Mkhitaryan said. “This year, the team is going to be amazing and it will be a pleasure for me to play next to these guys.
“We [Mkhitaryan and Januzaj] were very close. He is one of my friends. Even before I came here, I was in touch with him. He was asking if I was going to come here or not. I said I didn’t know but finally I am here and I think I will have him as a friend and as a helper.”
The Armenia international also issued a statement on his official Facebook page thanking Dortmund’s fans for their continued support.
“Dear friends, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Borussia Dortmund,” the statement read. “From the administration to the coaching staff, my teammates and of course all the amazing fans — for the love and support you have given me in the past seasons.
“I will never forget the moments we shared together on and off the pitch over the last three years and I feel truly privileged to have represented such a great club and a great city.
“When I think back to my roots and my father’s football career, I was taught to embrace new challenges and I felt that in order to honour my family’s legacy, I had to take this step in my career and join Manchester United.
“Thank you you once more for all the memories. You will always have a special place in my heart. With Love, Micki.”
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