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On-song schemer Gaston Ramirez insists he always wanted to come back to Boro - because he has found a place that brings out his A-game.

He says he is comfortable at the club and looking forward to proving his Premier League pedigree.

Ramirez had a dramatic impact after arriving on loan from Southampton in January and some sizzling shows, seven goals and a string of assists in 18 eye-catching matches helped Boro to promotion.

And Boro were keen to quickly make the move permanent but the deal hit a snag. Before arriving in the January window he was in the cold at St Mary’s and his career was stalling so he signed a pre-contract deal with Penerol back home in Uruguay.

That led to some complex red tape wrangles and a tricky work permit process as well as the usual stand-off over finances as Boro tried to complete a deal for the international.

“But I always wanted to come back here,” he said after his man of the match display against Stoke.

“At the end of last season, I made it clear that I wanted to sign for Middlesbrough , and the gaffer always knew that.

“It was just a case of working together with the club to sort it, and we did that over the summer.

“When you feel comfortable somewhere, and the people and the gaffer want you, it makes it a really easy to make a decision.

“I’m really pleased that things went through and now I’m looking forward to playing in the Premier League with Middlesbrough.”

Ramirez had a frustrating time at Southampton. He signed for £12m from Italian side Bologna in the summer of 2012 and scored five in 26 games in his first term and flourished under then boss Mauricio Pochettino but fell out of favour under Ronald Koeman and was consigned to the fringes and then later had a low key loan at Hull.

So the playmaker knows he has a point to prove about his true pedigree now he is back in the big league.

“When I came to Southampton I thought I did well, but then for one reason or another I fell out of the team and I didn’t really play again after that,” said Ramirez.

“I needed to find another place to play football, and thankfully that has turned out to be Middlesbrough.

“I enjoyed myself last season, and I am happy to be back with the squad and in the Premier League.

“The gaffer has given me lots of confidence, and hopefully I can prove that I can play at this level.

“I have done it in the past, so I know what I am capable of if I keep working hard.”

Ramirez put in an impressive opening display against Stoke and believes new look Boro’s 1-1 draw bodes well for the season to come.

“For most of the players, it was their first game in the Premier League,” said Ramirez.

“We’ve got some new players, and they are still settling into the group. We need that to happen as soon as possible because it will fill them with confidence.

“We were playing against a really good team, with good players, who finished in ninth last season. They are a good team, but we could have beaten them.”

“When you are winning the game for most of the time, you feel as though you should take all of the points at the end. But it was still a good result for us, and the first point in the league. We just have to keep working in the same way now.”