Carlos Bacca has explained his decision to stay at Milan this summer and argued that he works for the team on the pitch.

In the first half of the summer, Milan’s entire mercato revolved around whether Carlos Bacca, 29-years-old, will stay with the club or leave just one year after joining from Sevilla for €30 million.

Bacca wanted to go play for a Champions League side but only Europa League’s West Ham came forward with a serious offer which also satisfied the demands of the Rossoneri. But in the end, Carlos decided to reject the EPL sides and will stay at Milan to fight for a place in Europe in the 2017/18 season.

“A lot of things have been said, things about interest from some clubs and offers that came,” Bacca said in an interview to Milan TV. “But the truth is that, thank God, I’ve made a decision and I’m here with the squad. I’m happy and I’m working to get myself ready at 100% for the first match.

“I’m very confident for the upcoming season, with a coach who likes to play with the ball and be purposeful. We are adapting to what he asks of us and we hope to see the results already from the first match. I really like how Montella plays, because this way I could get 3-4 chances a game.

“Montella described me as a ‘strong’ player? Yes, I was pleased to have heard the words of the coach. On one of the first days when I first came back, he spoke with me and he was honest and clear and it filled me with confidence. He told me clearly how things are and that’s the important thing. I think that you can see on the pitch that I’m adapting to what he asks and surely soon you’ll see the results.

“Europe? Having the chance to play in Europe is very important for me, and that’s one of the reasons I thought of leaving Milan for a team that played in the Champions League. But then with a cool head I thought of the day I decided to leave Sevilla who were in the Champions League and come to Milan.

“My dream is to play in Europe with the red and black jersey. I have the opportunity to do so now and to grow and I’ll work for it. Together with my family we didn’t want to leave after one year without having reached this goal. I am a very ambitious player with desires and dreams, I didn’t reach this goal last year, but I am sure that my teammates and myself will do our best to qualify for the European cups. I’m glad I stayed at Milan, and I like playing in a team like this.

“How I help the team? When I score goals I hope the team. I think I work for the team and am the first player who goes to press, the first to defend and the first who wants to lead on the pitch. I’m not a technical or tactical player, but eventually I arrived to where I’m at by working hard to be in the starting XI and I thanks God I did. I was under the guidance of several coaches and I was a striker and that means that I work well for the team and that a striker is not only there to score but is judged for that. Sometimes you do a job that many don’t see and I’m happy with what I do on the pitch.

“That is because I always give my maximum. A message to the fans? Forza Milan, we are waiting for all the fans at the stadium, we need you. A hug to you all.”