Nuri Sahin said he chose to sign for Liverpool because of their rich history in England, while reserving praise for captain Steven Gerrard.
The Real Madrid midfielder sealed a season-long loan move from the Bernabeu to Anfield, amidst interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
"I'd spoken with Jose Mourinho three times," Sahin told NTVSport. "He wanted me to play in the Premier League but didn't refer to a specific team."
"I've chosen Liverpool because I wanted to play in a football team with a tradition.
"I played at one of the biggest clubs in Germany, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid. And now, I play for the biggest club in England."
Sahin hailed Steven Gerrard's contribution to Liverpool, not just in the field of play, but also off it with the England midfielder playing a keen role in setting an example for youngsters.
"He's a fantastic player and a captain," Sahin said. "He really takes care of the youngsters especially Raheem Sterling.
"I can learn many things from him. It's an honor to play alongside him."
Sahin also said he knew where Kaka would end up playing in January, but refused to mention the destination. The Brazilian midfielder has found himself surplus to requirement at Real Madrid and is expected to leave the club when the transfer window opens in January, with his wife recently hinting that their likely destination would be Brazil.
"I know he had an offer from Turkey," Sahin said. "I also know what he's going to decide for the January transfer window but I cannot reveal that."
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers has challenged his youngsters to step up and show what they're made of, when Liverpool play Young Boys in the Europa League Thursday.
Rodgers has taken a young squad to Berne, with the average age at just 21. "I'm always excited to see young players because you never actually know how they will do until you put them in a particular situation," Rodgers told reporters.
"But we've got a mix of players here -- we've got players who have won this tournament, we've got experienced international players and some very talented players. I'm really, really looking forward to seeing them come together as a group and to seeing how they represent the club.
"If the players do well tomorrow night then there's absolutely no reason why they can't be involved at the weekend. I like to have a small squad because it gives players who might be just on the outskirts the motivation and an opportunity.
"Secondly, it gives the younger players hope. They always feel that they can get into the squad or be around the squad, but for that they need to show they have the fight and personality to be in the team and that is what we're going to find out over the next few weeks.
"I'm very much looking forward to the game. We've got a squad who can win the game, or certainly get a good result, and I'm very confident we can do that."
