Bargain buy Mendieta happy with his life at the Riverside

Sports writer Paul Fraser chats to Boro's newest foreigner and discovers a superstar content with life down by the Riverside.

THE paella may not be the same and his siestas have not been as frequent, but the North-East countryside is more than making up for life away from his Spanish homeland.

Since making the move from Lazio to Middlesbrough in the summer, Gaizka Mendieta has looked comfortable when he has been in the surroundings of the Riverside.

But it is away from the strain of the Premiership where the 29-year-old has had to make himself feel at home and now that he has his family for company he has been able to do just that.

Mendieta has signed a five-year deal, the first year of which is initially a loan until the end of the season, so adapting to the English way of life on Teesside is paramount in his thoughts.

The attacking midfielder has played at Lazio, Barcelona and Valencia, so Middlesbrough - where the town's chemical backdrop has become as famous as its football team - is certainly a change from his norm.

But he is adjusting and he said: "It's different from all the places that I have lived but it's nice in other ways. The countryside is nice for one thing.

"Middlesbrough may not be able to offer you things that you find in the big city but it can offer you other things which the big cities don't have.

"I like to have quiet times with my family. I find that very good to me because everyone is very friendly. You can see that when you go out shopping and walking.

"I miss the food, my friends and the biggest change is the times of playing football. But it's not a problem to me."

Boro chairman Steve Gibson has sanctioned big money moves for numerous continental stars - Fabrizio Ravanelli, Juninho, Emerson and Christian Karembeu to name just four.

But none have come as cheaply as Mendieta, who will complete a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

The Spaniard has already been hailed, by an experienced Boro player, as the club's finest foreign signing.

So when he has completely settled the Premiership had better beware, as he is insists he is here for the long haul.

But even Boro fans must have asked why did he come to Boro?

Mendieta, who had just a half hour meeting with Steve McClaren before agreeing to the move, explained: "Middlesbrough are similar to the big clubs I have been at because I think with what they have got here they are just like a team who should be in Europe.

"The facilities and the players compare to those at Barcelona and Valencia but they have yet to get into Europe.

"The manager explained to me where the team is and how the team play. He also told me about the facilities and how training goes.

"I was at Lazio with Jaap Stam, who was at Manchester United when McClaren was there, so he gave me the reference on McClaren. Jaap said he was a good manager and a good person, which helped."

Growing up in Spain, as an excited footballer, Mendieta did not see too much English football.

But from what he did see he became a huge admirer of two of this country's most talented players of all time - Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne.

Hoddle's career took him to the south of France in the millionaires' paradise of Monaco. His silky skills may not have endeared him to the hearts of many English managers but his ability was renowned across the world.

Then there was Gazza. The volatile Geordie genius. He had the world at his feet, quite literally, but injuries and personal problems stopped him from going down in history as one of the world's greats along with Diego Maradona and Pele.

But, although the transfer market at the time did play its part, neither player cost as much as Mendieta when he moved from Valencia to Lazio for almost £30m in 2001.

When he plays he has the panache and class of Hoddle and the erratic yet irreplaceable creative style of Gascoigne.

"I remember Hoddle and Gascoigne," said Mendieta, who also works hard for his teammates defensively. "I think it was because when I was younger I used to like to watch the players that were playing well and they were doing that.

"I think that from the way I play I try to help all over the pitch. I can run and give a hand in defence. But in my position the most important thing is to attack and try to help out at the back as well.

"As a midfielder I think you have to work back but the most important thing is to attack. Midfielders have to score as well as the strikers. They have to get 40-50 per cent of a club's goals total by the end of the game."

Having tasted the best parts of top-flight football in Italy, Spain and now England, he is in as good a place as any to give a view on which is the best league in the world.

Perhaps with a tinge of predictable patriotism, Mendieta believes the Primera Liga is marginally in front of the Premiership in excitement with the Serie A lagging behind.

But he is convinced the style of play over here is very similar to that in Spain and he expects to see more of his countrymen follow him over to these shores - with more Englishmen opting for a taste of David Beckham's new life in southern Europe.

"If I compare all the countries that I have played in, I would say the one which is the most enjoyable for the supporters is Spain and second is England. In Italy it is too tactical and too physical," said Mendieta, a former Champions League winner.

"Even though Spain and England are very similar there have not been many Spanish players to come over here because they are all are very close to our customs and culture. They have got everything in their own country so I can see why they don't want to move.

"I think there could be a few more to come over here now because when some players start to play and things go well then that motivates other players to try it.

"Beckham is doing well in Spain and that is all good for your country here."

If there are more foreign stars like Mendieta arriving on Teesside then there will be no complaints from the Boro faithful.

The only problem next time is that Gibson, McClaren et al are likely to face a little more competition for his signature. It's a good job they have signed him on such a long-term deal.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.