Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero said Vincenzo Montella rejected "some of the world's biggest clubs" before agreeing to take charge at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Montella has become the Blucerchiati coach a week after Walter Zenga was relieved of his duties, and after a compensation package was agreed with his former club Fiorentina.
The former Catania and Roma coach was still contracted to Fiorentina until the end of the season, despite leaving them in the summer, and his appointment as head coach of the club where he spent four years of his playing career could only be confirmed after that contract was terminated.
That happened on Sunday, with Ferrero welcoming the fans' favourite back to Genoa, while once again wishing his predecessor Zenga the best for his future.
Primo giorno a #Bogliasco da mister per #Montella. Quattro scatti dal centro sportivo doriano. #MontellaUnodiNoi pic.twitter.com/rZDFao1gpv
- U.C. Sampdoria (@sampdoria) November 15, 2015
"Vincenzo's a true talent and he has chosen, from various offers, to follow his heart and these colours," Ferrero said at a news conference on Monday. "He has turned down the chance to join some of the world's biggest clubs and I can only say thanks to Vincenzo.
"To have Montella here is a great satisfaction for me, but I'm above all delighted for the club that Vincenzo is here. It's emotional for me to be here to present to you, Vincenzo. I'm proud to be sitting next to a great champion.
"First, though, I'd like to thank Walter Zenga. I know it may not be the right moment, but I want to wish him good luck and thanks. The decision to sack Zenga was an instinctive one. I had realised that, being the great person that he is, Zenga could not express his ambitions. Zenga is a great person and a great coach, but these are the rules of football."
Ferrero also thanked the Della Valle family -- the owners of Fiorentina -- for accommodating his wishes to appoint Montella, saying they were only able to reach a compromise "because they are people who love sport," before letting the new coach introduce himself for the third time as an employee of Sampdoria.
"I think it's quite clear how strong my bond with Samp is," said the 41-year-old, who scored 54 Serie A goals in his first spell with the club between 1996 and 1999 and added a further four in the 2007-08 season.
"We've got to enjoy ourselves -- enjoy ourselves by playing the football this club demands and expects. I've got to get to know the team and the kind of spirits they are in, but certainly my idea will be to continue building on the foundations laid by Zenga.
"I'm absolutely delighted to be here, without setting any limits. I've not been set any target, we just need to nurture and develop our targets as we go along."
Montella inherits a side lying 10th in Serie A, 11 points behind his former club, who are currently at the top of the table on goal difference.
His first two games in charge are away to Udinese and AC Milan, before he takes charge of his first home game against Sassuolo visit on Dec. 6.