Gaizka Mendieta has lifted the lid on his move to Barcelona.

The former midfielder spent the 2002/03 season on loan at the Camp Nou after a disappointing spell in Italy with Lazio.

"Lazio told me that they were listening to offers and [Louis] van Gaal called," Mendieta said on Instagram.

"It all went very quickly.

"After a difficult year in Lazio, I didn't have much to think about when Barcelona called me."