Anthony Vanden Borre is "proud" of his shock move to TP Mazembe and believes he can still play for Belgium if he successfully relaunches his career in Africa.
Vanden Borre, 29, brought a premature end to a season-long loan deal with Montpellier before Christmas and then cancelled his contract with Anderlecht amid speculation he would retire from the game.
The former Fiorentina and Genoa defender surprised everyone, however, by announcing he would be joining the side from DR Congo, and fulfilling an ambition of playing for the club based in Lubumbashi near to where he was born.
"I'm really proud. For those that know me, they know what TP Mazembe means to me. I'm really proud to be going 'home'. Perhaps you don't know much about this club, but it's a big club for me, and one of which I had dreamed. Now it's done, I'm very very happy," he told Belgian media.
"It's not true to say that I was sick of European football, but it's true that at a moment in time, I was a bit tired mentally, particularly with the career I've had. But being sick of European football doesn't mean I'm sick of football. You have to understand that."
Vanden Borre, who has not had a competitive game since featuring for Montpellier in early November, stated he hopes to be fit enough to play for his new club "very, very soon."
Having featured for Belgium at the 2014 World Cup, he also denied suggestions the transfer to the five-time African champions spelled the end of his ambitions of representing his country.
"Do you want the truth? Yes," he said when asked if he hoped to remain part of Belgium coach Roberto Martinez's plans. "The Congolese championship is just as good as the Chinese league. TP Mazembe is a bigger club than certain Chinese clubs.
"TP Mazembe are a very ambitious club. You just need to see the president to understand that. I'm not going there to sleep. I'm going there with heart, to give the best of myself, and try to win as many trophies as possible."
