Former Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne: I had other options but I am honoured to be joining Hamburg

Michael Mancienne,Wolverhampton Wanderers(Getty Images)

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Michael Mancienne admits that he is looking forward to the challenge of moving to the Bundesliga, suggesting that he snubbed other offers after moving to Hamburg from Chelsea.

The centre-back, who spent last season on loan with Wolves, believes the switch will have a great benefit on his career, insisting that he will be honoured to turn out for the German side.

“I think it’ll have a great benefit,” he said. “It’s a new challenge for me and to play for a big team such as Hamburg and to be playing week in, week out. I’m really honoured to go there and really looking forward to the challenge.”

Asked his opinion on why more English players have not decided to make the move to Germany, Mancienne added: “To be honest, I don’t know.

“I saw it as a massive opportunity to go abroad and to play in the German league, so I’m really excited by it. I did have a few other options, but I saw Hamburg as my biggest option.”

Mancienne is part of the England Under-21 squad preparing for the European Championships in Denmark and ahead of Stuart Pearce’s side’s first match against Spain on Sunday, the 23-year-old admits there is a positive move around the camp.

“Everyone’s really up for it,” he said. “In the build-up at La Cala, all the boys were really excited and couldn’t wait for the tournament to start. And I think everyone’s really geed up for the first game tomorrow.”