Mexes staying put to make amends

France centre-back Philippe Mexes yesterday pledged his future to Roma.

The former Auxerre star had been the subject of speculation linking him with a move to Milan last season but now he says he cannot quit Roma following last season's disappointing fourth-place finish that saw them miss out on the Champions League.

"I feel good here, just as someone would who is in a team that has won 10 titles and 10 cups," he said from Roma's training base in Bolzano.

"It's not usual to have a dressing room like ours and I feel great here. On top of that, after a disappointing season like the one we had last year, I couldn't leave because I want redemption."

Mexes joined Roma in 2004 and has won two Italian Cups with the capital-based team, having already won a French Cup with Auxerre in 2003.

He has played 13 times for France and was part of the squad that won the Confederations Cup in 2003.

Roma finished runners-up to Inter three years in a row from 2006-08 but last season got off to a disastrous start with six defeats in their first nine Serie A matches, from which they never fully recovered.