The 20-year-old Sparta Rotterdam striker saw at close hand how dangerous the Brazilian, Boro's record signing at £12.7million, can be during his time in Holland with Heerenveen.

But after completing a £3.2million switch to the Riverside Stadium Emnes is desperate to learn from the older man.

He said: "He is a big player and I believe I can learn a lot from him.

"To be able to play next to a player like that can only improve me.

"Since I was a young boy, I have always dreamt about playing in a foreign competition like the English one or the Spanish or the Italian.

"The more I got to know the English competition, the more I got interested in it.

"The most important thing for me this season is to get to a level and be able to compete with any other player, to play a lot of games and play as many minutes as I possibly can."

Boro officially unveiled new signings Emnes and Didier Digard at the club's Rockliffe Park training headquarters yesterday.

Former Paris St Germain midfielder Digard had to remain patient as negotiations over his transfer proved delicate, and later revealed Boro had not been the only club on his trail.

He said: "I had the opportunity to go to other clubs, including Monaco, Newcastle and Portsmouth, but I was very impressed by Gareth.

"I know he has a great relationship with the players and it was clear he knew exactly what he wanted to do with the club. He convinced me this was the club for me."

Southgate, who revealed Boro had agreed a fee with promoted Hull for George Boateng, was delighted to be able to confirm unsettled midfielder Gary O'Neil has pledged his future to the club.

O'Neil, 25, was unsettled on Teesside in the second half of last season following his £5million summer switch from Portsmouth, and Southgate admitted he faced a fight to keep him at the club.

However, following the player's return to the North-East, the two men sat down together and Southgate received the news which he had been hoping for.

Boro have also tied up the futures of three of their young prospects.

Defender Tony McMahon and former Hartlepool United loanee Tom Craddock, both 21, have signed one-year deals with the club.

Craddock has made five first-team appearances for Boro and enjoyed a month-long loan spell with Pools last season.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old scholar Joe Bennett has signed his first professional contract with the club.