Departing Villa defender Olof Mellberg revealed timing and the desire to try something different was behind his decision to join Juventus.

The 30-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Italian giants after seven years at Villa.

Mellberg will get the chance to play in his favoured centre-back role in Turin after spending his final season in claret and blue at right-back.

But the Swedish international says there were plenty of other factors behind his decision to uproot his wife and two children.

Read the full story in today’s Express & Star.

Departing Villa defender Olof Mellberg revealed timing and the desire to try something different was behind his decision to join Juventus.

The 30-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Italian giants after seven years at Villa.

Mellberg will get the chance to play in his favoured centre-back role in Turin after spending his final season in claret and blue at right-back.

But the Swedish international says there were plenty of other factors behind his decision to uproot his wife and two children.

“There were a lot of reasons,” he said. “The timing was one, but they’d been following me both with Villa and the national team for quite a long time and I know their manager pretty well.

“They came in for me at an early stage and I felt it was an opportunity for me to try something different at the age and stage of my career.”

Mellberg revealed he couldn’t resist signing off in his final game at West Ham last week by paying for 3,200 shirts for Villa fans because of the special relationship he has with the supporters.

The defender paid around £30,000 for fans to wear home and away jerseys with ‘Mellberg – Thanks 4 the memories’ printed on them.

“It was my idea because it’s unusual for a player to know so far in advance where you’re going to be playing next season,” he said.

“A lot of people have asked me for a shirt since I signed. I thought it would be a good idea for the home game – but it would have a little bit too much to buy 42,000!

“It was nice for the away fans because they have really supported us throughout the years and this season they have been fantastic. It doesn’t matter how much it cost – it was the end of season sale!

“But the fans are paying our salaries, so it wasn’t an issue. I’ve always tried to repay their support on the pitch.

“I think I’m going to keep my kit and maybe get it framed as it was my last game.

“I’ve tried to repay their support by always trying to give 100 per cent and always giving my best.

“That’s what fans appreciate more than anything.

“It was a chance for me to say ‘thank you’ in a different way at my final game.”