Fernando Llorente believes that Juventus can be compared to Real Madrid and Barcelona, and is looking forward to playing for the Old Lady next season.

The Spaniard will be leaving his boyhood club, Athletic Bilbao, when his contract runs out this summer and says that he was keen on Juve from the first time he found out that they were interested in him.

"It's one of the best teams in Europe and the best in Italy," the 28-year-old told Marca. "Juventus has impressed me ever since it expressed an interest.

"It's a really big club, comparable to Real Madrid and Barcelona. I'm lucky to be able to play for a team like that. It's as though I've always known it was my team."

Despite the prospect of playing for a European giant, the striker also admitted that he was sad about the way he has left Bilbao - with Marcelo Bielsa handing him just four starts in the league this season.

"I've always attempted to choose the best option for both Athletic and me. I tried to get the best deal but I came up against a brick wall," he concluded.

"I didn't want to go for free. Neither did I want to have the year I've had. I'll never go through that again if I can do anything to avoid it."