Valencia midfielder Nico Gonzalez says it was his decision to leave Barcelona.

Nico is on a season-long loan with Valencia.

He said, "I asked Xavi to go on loan and he understood.

"He wished me a lot of luck and made everything easy for me to go out on loan. I think yes, I had a place. There have been fewer players in the midfield than when I left. But it's not a decision I've made easily.

"I had been living in Barcelona for 10 years and getting out of there is complicated. I had my life, in the team of my whole life. But I think it's the right thing to do and I've gone to a perfect place to develop myself. I think any football team is different to Barça.

"But I suppose that every time you move you need that period to adapt."