Friday 12 September 2014 18:58, UK
Leonardo Ulloa has admitted his surprise at the club record £8million fee that Leicester City paid to sign him from Brighton.
The deal for Ulloa, who penned a four-year deal at the King Power Stadium in July, could rise to £10m depending on appearances for the Foxes.
The 28-year-old had been the subject of speculation involving Premier League clubs for some time after hitting sixteen goals in all competitions for Brighton last season.
Ulloa only moved to English football from Almeria in January 2013, but says he soon had top-flight ambitions after taking to the Championship with ease.
"I wanted to play in the Premier League. I spoke with Brighton and said that I wanted to leave, that it was a good chance for my career," he said.
"It was a weird situation coming from a second division team – so much money was paid.
"It wasn’t that I was transferred from a Premier League team to another, but in England it’s like that – different than any other place in the world.
"If there is a player that is having a good performance, the clubs don’t care how much they spend. They just buy the transfer.
"I couldn’t believe it when I was told as it was a lot of money."
Asked why there are so many fellow Argentinians now playing in English football, Ulloa said: "England has opened the doors to players from everywhere for years.
"Before that it’s like England didn’t like to gather foreign players with another way of playing, but now there are many styles and that gives the chance to players from anywhere."
Ulloa was also joined at Leicester by former Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, who arrived on a free transfer from Inter Milan.
The striker said: "I didn’t know him (Cambiasso) before and I have been surprised because he is a very kind person, with a lot of humility.
"I’ve asked him a lot about his experience in Italy. He asks me about England, he got surprised about the way football is in England, the organisation and the culture.
"It’s good for me to be with him, he gives experience and quality."
