New Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri has shrugged off the accusation his key motivation in joining the club was money.

Ex-Bayern Munich man Shaqiri completed his switch from Inter to the Potters on Tuesday for a club-record £12 million on a five-year contract.

The news has prompted criticism from former Bayern and Germany midfielder Stefan Effenberg, who was quoted as saying: “I do not understand Shaqiri’s move to Stoke at all. You have been badly advised if you go there.

“This is a shame and a sad state of affairs. Only because they are throwing around cash? Is it really all about money for footballers these days?”

When asked about that yesterday at his unveiling at the Britannia Stadium, Shaqiri – who was also linked with Schalke and Borussia Dortmund – said of Effenberg: “He has no job at the moment, so he can talk – he’s a free man.

“Anybody can talk who is free. But I don’t want to comment on this. I will concentrate on my job as I’m happy to be here and I can’t wait to play.

“This is my job. It isn’t my job to comment on what people say.”

The 23-year-old Switzerland international added: “I want to do my speaking on the pitch.”

Shaqiri yesterday stressed he was fit and ready to make his debut in Saturday’s Premier League game at Tottenham Hotspur if required.

Shaqiri said: “This is very different to Italian football.

“But I am a player who can integrate very fast and I think English football is perfect for me – it is very attacking, from box-to-box.”