Mario Gomez has revealed he rejected offers from England and Germany to join Besiktas on loan from Fiorentina.

The 30-year-old left Serie A after two injury-plagued seasons in a bid to revive his career in Turkey.

“It was not really an option for me to go back to the Bundesliga,” Gomez told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

“I love Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, my two former clubs.

“I had some incredibly nice moments with both so that I could not imagine playing for another side in the Bundesliga.”

The Premier League was not an attractive enough option either with Gomez intentionally taking a step down in order to take two steps forwards.

“I had offers also from England and Germany,” Gomez said. “Of course I know that the Turkish league is not on the same level as the Bundesliga, the Italian, Spanish or English leagues and looking from the outside, it’s a step back, but everybody has the right to say what they like.

“I am 100 per cent convinced by my decision and it is a considered choice.”