Xabi Alonso has said that joining Bayern Munich from Real Madrid this summer has proved a "great career move."
Alonso, 33, joined Bayern during the final days of the 2014 summer transfer window and has become a central player for Pep Guardiola's men, starting all but one of the German champions' Bundesliga games since the move.
"One of the reasons I came was to gain new experience and get to know the Bundesliga and a special club like Bayern, and I can already say it's been a great career move," Alonso told the official Bayern website.
The former Liverpool midfielder has just finished the first winter training camp of his career, having travelled with Bayern to the Middle East as they prepare to return to Bundesliga action away to Wolfsburg on Jan. 30.
The former Spain midfielder said he feels "very good indeed" after the trip and added: "It's a new experience for me and I like it.
"You get to freshen up physically and mentally, and now we're back on the pitch preparing for the second, decisive half of the season.
"Just like every member of the team I'm working hard towards peak form and trying to help the team. I want to be ready for the big matches that are hopefully coming up in the rest of the season. We have big targets."
Meanwhile, David Alaba made his comeback in the Bundesliga champions' 4-1 friendly victory against Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal.
The Austria international came off the bench in the 57th minute as he made his first appearance since suffering a knee injury in the Champions League match against AS Roma in early November.
Dante, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Robert Lewandowski and Claudio Pizarro were on target for Bayern in the match.