Madrid: Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain says he's leaving Real Madrid after seven seasons to join a club where he is truly "wanted". Higuain has been linked to Juventus.
He made his announcement on Saturday after scoring his 121st and final goal for Madrid in their 4-2 win over Osasuna on the last day of the Spanish league.
"I feel like my time here has ended, I want a change of air," Higuain said. "These have been seven intense, difficult, and happy years. It's hard, it's not easy but I think that I want to go to another club, (have) new challenges."
Higuain joined Madrid from River Plate for the 2006-07 season. Despite helping Madrid win three Spanish league titles and one Copa del Rey, Higuain never established himself as the undisputed first-choice striker, sharing time up front with Karim Benzema for the past four seasons.
"I was never given anything," he said. "I would like to go where they demonstrate that they are telling the truth when they say they want me. There are people who say I am a player of a certain class, but I don't know. That's over. I want to be done with this."
Madrid finished runner-up to Barcelona and without a major title after losing in the Champions League semi-finals and the final of the Copa del Rey.
Manager Jose Mourinho also coached his last game with Madrid. He is expected to return to English Premier League club Chelsea.
Higuain said Mourinho and his team-mates helped him decide to leave. "I have made my decision. Last year things happened. My coach convinced me, also my team-mates," he said. "I hope Madrid do the best thing for me."
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