Adlene Guedioura was desperate to leave Crystal Palace this summer but only if he could return to Watford. Yesterday the midfielder got his wish. And he couldn’t be happier.

“It’s great to be back,” the Algerian international told Watford’s website. “It’s very special to be here. It was a long process but now it’s done. I’m really happy.

“It was never in my mind that I wouldn’t be coming here. I had to fight for that but at the end of the day it was a good day for me. I really hope good things now happen in the future.

“Physically I was in south London but my heart and my mind was still here in Vicarage Road. This is what I wanted. Now I bring my body and meet my heart here.

“I feel really flattered and honoured from all the offers that I’ve had from other clubs but for me, I never wanted to move unless it was to Watford. That wish has become a reality.”

Guedioura’s desire to make a permanent move to Vicarage Road stems from the two successful loan spells he had with the Hornets last season.

The likeable 29-year-old played a crucial role in helping Watford clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League and was extremely popular in the dressing room.

“The atmosphere with the players like Troy Deeney, Heurelho Gomes and Odion Ighalo, I could name all of them, I had something special with them,” Guedioura added. “I really wanted to join them because we were still in contact.

“Even the fans. The atmosphere they created at Brighton when we won, even though we didn’t know we were up, it was amazing to be part of that. I wanted to continue being part of it.”

Guedioura has returned to find a very different Hornets squad, not to mention a new head coach. However, he says he can’t wait to make his debut as a fully-fledged Hornets player.

“The same players and the same people are around but yes, there are new players and a new head coach. But I am really excited to be around.

“From what I have heard, he (Quique Sanchez Flores) is a really good manager and he is doing really well. I want to show him he should be happy with me.”