Almeida joined Racing Santander on a season-long loan from Valencia without an option to buy, a deal completed on deadline day after the midfielder turned down interest from Swansea City and a proposed move to Celta Vigo.
Introduced to the media alongside Racing sporting director Chema Aragón and communications director Roberto González, the Portuguese midfielder said his focus was entirely on his new club.
"My head is centred here," he said, adding that he wished Valencia nothing but the best.
"I am very happy, I want to enjoy football again and compete, I like to compete," Almeida said of his move to Cantabria.
He explained that his first season at Mestalla had been positive, but that his final three years had been increasingly difficult.
"I needed a change for my head. I have had a bad time there the last three years and I also needed to play more, to feel important," he said.
Almeida was candid about the toll that period had taken on him personally, without going into specifics about what had caused it.
"If you watched my games I was sad, I didn't feel like fighting for Valencia. You are not comfortable in a place because of things that happened, that I don't want to talk about and that my family and only I know what we have been through. I really needed this change," he said, adding that he remained motivated to begin the new chapter.
"I love playing soccer. It's something I like a lot. And in Valencia I couldn't be happy. Here I feel that I can do it, playing in my position too, which is important."
The 26-year-old also addressed being deployed in various positions during his time at Valencia, insisting his best form comes through the middle.
"I have always been a midfielder," he said, praising head coach José Alberto López's system as well suited to his qualities. "I think the style of play is very good for me." Almeida made his Racing debut against Rayo Vallecano after just two training sessions with his new teammates.
Sporting director Chema Aragón said Almeida had emerged as an option late in the transfer window and had been clear he wanted to join Racing despite having other possibilities in Spain, noting that the midfielder "has given up a little money to come here," which he said reflected his commitment to the project.