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Aaron Ramsey says his return to Cardiff City is not a "token gesture" believing he would always return to the club where his career started.
The Wales captain spoke to national team boss Robert Page before signing a two-year deal for the Championship club.
Ramsey, 32, also hopes to help hone young talents such as Rubin Colwill.
"I always knew in the back of my mind that I'd come back one day," said Ramsey.
"I think now is the right time. I didn't want to just come back to see out a year or something then at the end of my career just to do it as a token gesture sort of thing.
"I want to come back while I still feel like I can perform and help this team and now is the perfect time to do that."
Ramsey joined the Bluebirds having negotiated an exit from French top-flight club Nice, preferring to settle back in Cardiff with his family, rather than take up a lucrative approach from Saudi Arabia.
"Obviously, the Saudi situation, is very lucrative in certain aspects. But for me, the most important thing was to be back home. And to come back to Cardiff where it all started," said the former Arsenal player during his first broadcast interview since his return.
The midfielder, who has won Serie A with Juventus and had a loan spell at Glasgow Rangers, was also impressed by the aspirations of the club after talks with owner Vincent Tan, chairman Mehmet Dalman and director Steve Borley.
"Having had the conversations with those guys, I think the ambition and the passion is still there.
"I was very impressed by what they had to say and the direction that they want to go in.
"Ultimately they want to try and get the club back to the Premier League. Yes, its been a bit tricky with the embargo and things like that, but I think they can be proud of what they've done so far. "
Cardiff are currently unable to pay a fee for players as they operate under the remnants of a Football League embargo for the initial failure to pay the first instalment of the £15m fee for Emiliano Sala, who perished in a plane crash en route to the capital from his club Nantes in January, 2019.
Ramsey also revealed he had spoken to Page about the move. Page recently re-instated Ramsey as his captain for the start of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
"I've spoken to the gaffer about this a few weeks back and he totally understands it," said Ramsey.
"I think from his own personal experience as well, he found it quite difficult being away from his family in his playing career, so he totally understand that.
"And as long as I'm performing and playing well, then there are no issues. I know I'm capable of doing that. I'm determined to show consistently again what I can do.
"It's the same as any other player really, you have to be performing to be to be considered to represent your country. So, hopefully we can have a really good season."
Cardiff signing Ramsey 'a no-brainer'
Ramsey also believes he can help the career development of younger players at Cardiff, not least fellow Wales international Colwill, who played in the last Euros and at the World Cup in Qatar, but is currently in the national under-21 squad, having been hampered by fitness problems last season.
"I'm very experienced and I hope that I can help a lot of the players, the young players coming through," said Ramsey.
"The young Welsh players coming through as well. So there are lot of things that I'm looking forward to and getting stuck into here."
He added: "I think Rubin obviously has an amazing amount of talent. And he's certainly showed glimpses of that over the last few years.
"Now I'm hoping that he can take that next step now and consistently show how good he can be.
"There is no question about the ability that he has. Now it's about how much does he want it and how much is he willing to give to get to the highest level."
Ramsey will be part of Cardiff's pre-season training in Portugal and will fly out with the squad on Monday, 17 July..
He believes new boss Erol Bulut has been a "breath of fresh air" and has no doubt - after making 44 club and country appearances last season, the most since he left Arsenal in 2019 - he will cope with the physical rigours of the Championship.
He said: "I've experienced this Championship before. I know what it's like and that it is physically demanding.
"It's a long season, but I know if I manage myself correctly along with the staff we can we can have a good season together.
"Last year I had a really good relationship with Nice and the medical team and there's no coincidence that we put together some very good numbers last year.
"So my aim is to build on that again."
Cardiff City fans will have experienced few days as joyful as Saturday. But as soon as you speak with Aaron Ramsey, you realise it was just as big for him.
After weeks, months even, of speculation, the prodigal son has returned to where it all started - and he genuinely could not be happier. His weekend's schedule is rammed and he is packing for the club's pre-season trip to Portugal on Monday, but takes time out of his Sunday to speak about his stunning return to the Welsh capital club.
It was a move driven by Ramsey himself, but would not have been possible without the hours of work put in by the higher-ups at Cardiff to get it over the line. Finally, he is back with his family unit and it means the world to him.
READ MORE: Aaron Ramsey's son signs for Cardiff City on same day in 'special' twist
"That's a massive part of why I'm coming back," he says. "Being away from them for the 12 months, 18 months really if you include Scotland.
"It's been difficult. You miss out on a lot of things and they grow so quickly at that age. For me, it's definitely the right decision to come back and hopefully I can get stuck into everything; being a footballer, being a dad and getting that right."
Not only did Ramsey sign his own two-year deal, with the potential for a further year, but his seven-year-old son, Sonny, signed a contract which will see him enter the Bluebirds academy when he turns eight. The icing on the cake, as far as Ramsey is concerned.
"That was unbelievable," he beams. "What an unforgettable day for both of us. To see him sign his first contract was really special. It brought back a lot of memories from when I started that way.
"It's just great to see. Obviously, me coming through that academy and progressing the way I I did. To see my boy take that first step, a very proud moment."
Much speculation online has surrounded where he will play. Will he play deep in the pivot? Or further advanced in that playmaker role? It's clear, from the conversations he's had with manager Erol Bulut, he knows where he will be able to affect games next season.
"It will depend on the game, but more advanced, more an eight or a 10 position," he says of his position. "I think that's where I play my best football.
"I can play in other positions, but, yeah, where I can have an influence and affect the games a lot more. A lot more attacking positions suit me better.
"I've been really impressed (by Bulut). I think he's come in and been a breath of fresh air, from speaking to some of the lads.
"He is really excited by this challenge ahead. He is determined to put his stamp on things and help Cardiff get back to where we believe they belong."
With the arrival of Ramsey, as well as the four other signings to be fair, expectations are naturally rising in Wales' capital city. Ramsey himself is aware of that, but undeterred.
In fact, he says it aligns with the vision that was put to him by the club's top brass when conversations over his move to Cardiff City Stadium began. His talks with the board and owner Vincent Tan struck a chord with his own ambitions of getting the club back into the Premier League once again.
"I've been speaking a lot with Steve (Borley), Mehmet (Dalman) and the owner and they have all been brilliant. What they have done so far has been brilliant," he adds.
"I'm sure they are going to try and get a few others over the line in the next few weeks. Having those conversations, the ambition and the passion is still there and I was very impressed by what they had to say and the direction they want to go in.
"Ultimately, they want to get the club back to the Premier League. Yeah, it's been tricky with the embargo and things like that. But they can be proud of what they've done so far.
"I've only spoken to the owner a couple of times. I think he is very excited with what they've done so far and the direction they want to go in.
"He is a very passionate guy who wants the best for Cardiff and is trying to do everything he can to get them back in the Premier League. That's where the vision is. It's just trying to improve and and kick on and get everyone on the same page to reach our targets."
It won't be easy, of course. Cardiff have been fighting at the wrong end of the Championship table over the last two years. With such a strong division next season, too, they will have a real fight on their hands.
It's a project, but Ramsey has not ruled out springing a surprise next year and being one of the teams to trouble that top half and show everyone what they are all about once again.
"After the last couple of seasons Cardiff had, it's been a bit difficult," he concedes. "It's about now trying to get some stability back there and trying to make fans happy again, seeing smiles on faces.
"The only way we can achieve that is by sticking together, supporting each other and hopefully this season we can kick-start that again and get the Cardiff back that I know, and the fans and everyone being together in that and make it a fortress again. That's the plan this season now, to achieve that. We are going to have to take care of that by giving the performances required to play for Cardiff.
"The manager, new staff... now we can hopefully get in over the next few weeks and get to understand and know each other a bit better to have a good crack at this year. There are many surprises in the Championship every year. I'm feeling good and want to contribute as much as I can to get Cardiff back to where they were.
"I always set my expectations really high. My targets will be no different. I want to try and help Cardiff get back playing against the best teams in the country."
It's been a hectic time for the 32-year-old, but there's no rest for the wicked. He heads out to Portugal with the rest of the squad on Monday morning, where he will meet his new team-mates for the first time.
He can't wait to get on that plane.
"I have had a couple of weeks off but I'm excited to get back in with the boys and see my new team-mates and to get going again!" he says.
"It started off many years ago with a pre-season trip to Portugal, so there were some good memories. Let's go and make some more."
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