Dacourt: I was picked on

Dacourt is on loan in the Eternal City until the end of the campaign with a view to a permanent switch to Serie A in the summer.

His turbulent two-and-a-half-year spell at Elland Road ended earlier this month with the move to Italy but Dacourt believes he was harshly treated during his time in England.

The French midfielder linked up with Leeds in the summer of 2000 and was sent off on his debut in a Champions League qualifier against 1860 Munich.

He also collected 16 yellow cards in his first season with The Whites and feels he was victimised by referees.

"When I arrived, everybody told me that The Premier League is very tough so I thought that I would have to be the same," said Dacourt.

"Is this the reason I obtained a lot of yellow cards in my early games? Then, the referee always gave me a yellow, only because I already had the name of a bad boy."

Dacourt has immediately bedded into the Roma team as he seeks to secure a permanent deal with the club but concedes that if he fails to impress coach Fabio Capello, he will have to return to England.

He added: "I'm here on loan so I have to do my best. If not, I will have to go back to England."