Veteran Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor says the main reasons he decided to join Paraguayan side Olimpia Asuncion were the influence of ex-Manchester City team-mate Roque Santa Cruz and the club president’s six-year-old son. The 35-year-old former Arsenal striker, who quit Turkish club Kayserispor in December, signed a deal until the end of the year as giants Olimpia hunt for domestic and South America’s Copa Libertadores silverware.

“At first I was impressed after speaking to the club president and Roque Santa Cruz who was my old team-mate at Manchester City,” Adebayor said at a news conference. “He told me that in his country, people live and breathe football. I asked him for verbal assurance that everything will be fine. “Santa Cruz gave me his word that I will love it here, so he played a big role in me coming here. “I also got a lot of personal messages from some of the fans on social media and that made a big impact. “But I was mostly touched by the words of the president’s young son who, at six years old, said I am his idol. That was very emotional for me.” Aside from Turkey and England, the forward has also played in France and for Spanish giants Real Madrid. A few hours after his medical, Adebayor realised that football in this South American nation is completely different to Europe. Paraguay holds two separate championships a year and Olimpia have won the last four. “Obviously, I knew a bit about the club from Santa Cruz and of course how he is doing well in Paraguay,” he added. “Apart from Olimpia I won’t lie, I don’t know anything about the league or the format, but I can’t wait to find out.”