Porto Alegre (Brazil), Feb 4 (IANS): Former Argentina international Andres D'Alessandro has signed with his former club River Plate on a one-year loan from Brazil's Internacional.

The move follows a long-held wish by D'Alessandro to return to his former club, reports Xinhua.

"I'm leaving because that's what I wanted," the midfielder told a press conference in this southern Brazilian city on Wednesday.

"It's not easy for me. I'm very grateful to this club, they gave me everything."

D'Alessandro joined Internacional from Argentina's San Lorenzo in 2008. He helped the Brazilian club win the 2010 Copa Libertadores, the 2008 Copa Sudamericana and six Rio Grande do Sul state championships.

He remains contracted to Internacional until December 2017.

The 34-year-old, who has been capped 28 times for Argentina, began his professional career at River Plate, helping the Buenos Aires outfit to three league titles.

Argentina's Primera Division season begins on Friday.