German international striker Mario Gomez says that he has “contrasting emotions” after leaving Bayern Munich for Fiorentina.

On the one hand, the powerful 27-year-old is sad to leave a team on the cusp of becoming one of the greatest in modern football history.

But on the other, he is excited by his new challenge of taking the Italian top-flight by storm.

"I have contrasting emotions, as I am leaving the strongest team in the world and cannot hide a certain nostalgia," Gomez told Bayern’s official television station, after inking his reported €16 million deal with La Viola.

"I love football and wanted to play more, which is why I decided to leave.”

Gomez wilted under the challenge of Mario Mandzukic at Bayern last season, and he was even less likely to play under new Bayern manager, Pep Guardiola, who does not favour Gomez’s hulking brand of old-school forward play.

But few players are as adept at holding the ball up and bundling home as Gomez, whose record at the Allianz Arena was prolific.

Most pundits believe Gomez is well-equipped to boss the Serie A, and he says he is itching to start banging the goals in for his ambitious new team.

“The contact with Fiorentina started some time ago and I was immediately struck by their very ambitious project,” he explained.

"I preferred Italy to Spain and Fiorentina really impressed me. The Viola play such great football, I can't wait to start."