Albion coach Bruno has revealed all in a wide ranging interview with MyAlbion TV.
The former defender arrived at the club from La Liga outfit Valencia in 2012 – a decision influenced by another of Albion's Spanish players, Vicente.
“He spoke really well about the club and the city. I spoke with [manager] Gus Poyet as well and they convinced me and it was so easy to make the decision,” said Bruno.
“It was important because it made that transition to a new culture much easier. Inigo Calderon had already been here for a long time and he helped us to settle down.
“At the same time, when I arrived I tried not to just spend time with the Spanish players because if you want to learn English you have to mix with everyone and I was so lucky with my teammates – Ashley Barnes, Gordon Greer, a proper Scottish man! I can go anywhere in England and I can understand anyone because of him! I had good teachers here.
“Every member of that team in the first year put good things in place, even when we were training at the university and we were split into different changing rooms because they were too small. They were really fun times.”
While Bruno settled into life on the south coast fairly quickly, the change from Spanish football to the Championship was a real challenge.
“It took me a while to adapt to the Championship because it is the hardest league in the world.
“You need to look after your body and I had a couple of injuries that at the end of my first season which didn’t allow me to play in the play-offs and they were some of my most bitter experiences here.
“It was really hard to take because during the season we played really good football and had a good team bond.
“To see some players miss out on that promotion to the Premier League when it might have been their last chance was hard to take.”
Albion fans' love for Bruno is perfectly encapsulated by the mural on Ditchling Road.
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“When I first saw it on Instagram I thought it was a joke! But I started getting messages saying ‘have you seen it?’ and I was like ‘wowzers’.
“I have only been to see it once or twice because I am quite embarrassed! I am really impressed and thankful though. I have tried to keep away from those sorts of things and just try to be a normal guy.
“The most important thing is the love that I can see when I am walking down the streets and talking to supporters or when I am interacting with them. When I go to the park to play football with my kids, there ends up being 20 kids playing! That's what I like. If I have to leave Brighton at some point, that is the sort of thing I would miss.
“Being in the stadium and having all the fans signing your name is the most amazing thing. It's so special. But actually, interacting with them is great too. I am a sociable guy and I like talking to people. To have their respect and love, that's more than enough.”