Gaizka Mendieta aims to push himself back into the international reckoning by showing the Middlesbrough fans exactly why Lazio paid £29m for his services.

The former star of the Spanish and Italian leagues was seen as one of the steals of recent years when Steve McClaren secured his services on a free transfer at the start of last season.

With his initial loan deal becoming a permanent four-year contract this term, Mendieta has his eyes firmly fixed on the World Cup qualifiers.

Despite impressing the Teesside faithful with his skills last season, the 30-year-old insists the best is yet to come. And Mendieta, who last played for Spain in October 2002, is in no mood to retire from the international scene.

"I don't know how close I was to my best last season but I know I can do better and that I can score more goals," said the player who swapped Valencia for Rome in a near-£30m deal back in 2001.

"I've got a year's experience under my belt and that helps as a player to know what to expect, it allows me to play with more freedom.

"If the manager is happy with my work then that is good for me."

With Luis Aragones now in charge of Spain, Mendieta sees no reason why he can't force his way back into the international reckoning.

He said: "I never think my international career is over because I've seen a lot of players coming back into the national team after a long break.

"I don't know if Aragones being new manager will help."

Middlesbrough start the new campaign at home to Newcastle on Saturday with Mendieta facing former Barcelona team-mate, Patrick Kluivert.

And if, as expected, the Dutch striker starts on the bench, Mendieta feels it will be a let-off for Boro.

"If he starts on the bench I will be surprised, because he's such a big player, but Bobby Robson knows what he's doing," said Mendieta.

"Patrick offers many options to help Newcastle play. He's one of the best players I came across in Spain and you never like playing against him.

"Maybe he's not an out-and-out striker but his movement is so good when his team have the ball.

"I think it's a good move for him, it's good to experience playing in different countries, here in England they live for the game."

That passion will be on display in every corner of the Riverside against Newcastle on Saturday - a game that Mendieta knows the Boro fans can't wait to see.

He said: "Everybody's excited about this game because it's time to prove what we can do.

"I don't think there's a favourite to win, we're very similar teams. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top."

* Reports in Spain insist that Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira could be a Real Madrid player as soon as tomorrow.

The club, also linked with Liverpool's Michael Owen, are remaining tight-lipped but the media are convinced the Senegal-born French international is on the way to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Diario AS believe the deal to confirm Vieira as a new Real player will be concluded as soon as the club return from their Champions League qualifier in Poland.

The paper reported: ''If everything goes as planned, Vieira will be presented on Thursday as a new Real Madrid player for the next five years and he will immediately join their training sessions.''