'Bluebirds are next step in fulfilling my ambitions'

Cardiff City record signing, Gary Medel, sees the Bluebirds as the next step in fulfilling his ambitious dreams.

The 26-year-old midfielder arrived in the Welsh capital on Saturday following a £9.5m transfer from Spanish side Sevilla.

Medel is currently in Denmark where he will play for Chile tomorrow night in an international friendly against Iraq.

He will not link up with his new Bluebirds teammates until Friday morning, little more than 24 hours before manager Malky Mackay and his men kick-of their Premier League campaign at West Ham.

Medel, renowned for his aggressive style, said he was expecting the football in the Premier League to be even tougher than in Chile, Argentina and Spain where he has plied his trade before.

And the man nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’ admitted he saw Cardiff as the next step along the path towards reaching his footballing dreams which include playing in the Champions League and qualifying for next year’s World Cup with his native Chile.

How the Spanish and Chilean media reacted to Medel joining Cardiff

"It is a new challenge that I want to fulfil,” Medel told Chilean station, Radio Cooperativa

" It's going to be different. Football here is tougher, stronger, faster, a new challenge

“I want to get to try to reach a larger team. I went step by step and got every part of my dream, now my goal is to qualify for the (World Cup) finals, which is what all Chile wants, and to try to play in the Champions League or other major leagues.”

But as he looks to settle in the Welsh capital, Medel admits his first challenge will be to learn some English.

He added: " In English I do not know anything yet, but the desire and motivation are there. So I learn fast .”

As long as he keeps us in the prem for a few years he can do what he wants

Good honest statement based on where our club is at the moment...if we can move forward we may fulfil his ambitions, if not he will move on.

Kimbo said something along the same lines

Once he's had a Clark's Pie (and a few fights in chip alley) he'll stay forever.

Once he's had a Clark's Pie (and a few fights in chip alley) he'll stay forever.

Imagine him out on a rugby night. Be like Armageddon!

Cant argue with what he's said really. We are hardly Man Utd. But if he turns into the kind
of player they would want then it will mean he's been brilliant for us and we'll turn a tidy
profit. Bit much to think we can fulfill his Champions League dreams. Not yet anyway

Keep us up and I'll wish him all the best if another club comes in for him next summer. He might stay one season and that might be enough but the good thing is the money we'll make from staying in the Premier League. If he does a job it only favours us and him in the end personally so its win-win.

He obviously sees us as a step up from Sevilla, that'll do for me!