Brazilian midfielder Casemiro believes he is returning to Real Madrid a much better player after a season on loan at Porto and is determined to help Los Blancos bring the good times back.
Casemiro made just five starts for Real in the 2013-14 campaign and left the Bernabeu last summer on an initial 12-month loan deal.
The 23-year-old was impressive at Porto, contributing in the club's run to the Champions League quarterfinals and a second-place finish in the Liga Sagres.
Casemiro is under contract with Real for two seasons and cannot wait to have a starring role in Rafa Benitez's side.
The Brazil international said on the club's official website: "I'm living another dream and it feels like I've returned home.
"I was gone for a year but I was always thinking about being at Real Madrid. I'm really excited about winning things here.
"It was an extremely important year in my life. Porto helped me quite a bit but I worked really hard, with lots of enthusiasm and humility and with my mind always focused on returning to Real Madrid."
Casemiro moved to Real's B side Castilla from Sao Paulo in January 2013 and made his first-team debut three months later.
"My objectives now are the same as the ones I had on my first day with Castilla," he said. "Work hard and eagerly try to win with Real Madrid, which is my dream. I'm home."
Casemiro is one of 25 Real players training in Melbourne, Australia, where the club is on tour and being coached by Benitez for the first time.
Benitez left Napoli at the end of last season to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of Los Blancos -- the Italian was sacked after Real ended the 2015 campaign without a trophy.
"The technical staff is doing a great job and, on top of that, the city and where we're training are both spectacular places," Casemiro said.
"The mentality of the other players is excellent. I believe this is the right path to follow for winning titles at the end of the season.
"We're still only getting started and we have a new manager, so we'll have to keep working one step at a time.
"He is a manager with high expectations of his players and I like that. He knows how to communicate with his players and he is intelligent. Our mentality is geared towards winning titles."
Casemiro has chosen the No. 14 jersey and is hoping to meet the expectations that go along with that honour.
"Without a doubt there have been some great players who have worn this number here like Guti and Xabi Alonso, who made history with this club," he said. "I believe that I can make history, too. I'm really eager and I'll keep working to make that happen."
