Portuguese centre-back Ricardo Carvalho has admitted that the challenge of returning Monaco to the upper echelons of Ligue 1 persuaded him to join the club.

Carvalho, who joined Monaco last week on a free transfer from Real Madrid, said that he had other offers on the table but is "very happy" to join the Ligue 2 champions.

"I just want to keep playing and help the club, who have just come back to Ligue 1," Carvalho told French radio station RMC.

"I had other offers in Europe and elsewhere, and taking an offer from America or Dubai would have been easy. But I want to play and I think that going to Monaco was the best option for me. I'm very happy with my decision.

"First of all, Monaco is a club that wants to grow and I want to be part of the project. We have very clear objectives and it will be important to win matches in order to contest the highest places on the table."

Carvalho has previously played for Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid.