The opportunity to play Champions League football next season was a major factor in midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s decision to join Inter on a free transfer this summer rather than stay at Roma.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who report that the 33-year-old has made his decision and is convinced that the Nerazzurri are the right destination for him.

Only the signature is needed for Inter to complete the signing of Mkhitaryan, whose current deal with Roma is set to expire at the end of next month and who has decided to leave at the end of his contract despite the efforts of the Giallorossi to extend with.

Champions League football was an important factor in the midfielder’s decision, and he will be the first Armenian to play for Inter, while he could choose between his 7 shirt number from Arsenal and 22 from Shakhtar Donetsk with the 77 he wears at Roma taken by Marcelo Brozovic.