Newcastle defender Davide Santon insists he is not thinking of returning to Italy having finally settled at the Premier League club.
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The Italy international made the move to the Magpies from Inter Milan in August 2011, but found life on Tyneside difficult at first due to the language barrier.
However, Santon now feels very much at home in the north east after coming to grips with his English with the aid of his Geordie partner.
And the 21-year-old full-back believes he can make a success of his stay at St James' Park having won over the Toon fans with his performances this season.
"Newcastle feels like home. My girlfriend is from the city - a Geordie girl - so I am really settled," he told the Evening Chronicle.
"I am happy here. I don't miss Italy. I do miss my family, of course, but I really love living here. I don't even mind the weather. It's a bit different, but Milan is cold during the winter.
"I have been here 18 months now and it has gone in no time at all. It was difficult for me when I first got here because I couldn't speak English and that meant it was hard for me to understand what the manager said.
"But I took lessons straight away and that made it easier, although I don't think my English is that good. My girlfriend teaches me so I'm getting better.
"The first moments in England were not great for me. It was all so different. My cousin was with me at the time, but it wasn't easy.
"So it's great to be able to say that this feels like home 18 months later. I feel that the fans like me and I think they are fantastic. It is important to get that feeling when you live in the city."
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