Frenkie de Jong says president Joan Laporta put him under pressure to leave Barcelona but he had no intention of moving.
De Jong was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United during the last transfer window as Barca tried to offload players after splashing out on the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde.
The Netherlands midfielder, who was also said to be a target for Paris Saint-Germain, made it clear he wanted to remain at Camp Nou.
De Jong knew the Catalan giants were eager for him to depart, but he was not affected by so much talk about his future.
He told Ziggo Sport: "I was calm. I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period. I stayed calm.
"But then you know the pressure would start to come...from the newspapers, from the president, from everywhere. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never bothered me."
Former Ajax man De Jong has made only four starts for Barca this season, but hopes to be included in the side for the Clasico clash at Real Madrid on Sunday.
He added: "I knew that he [Xavi] would play fewer minutes at the beginning of the season. I want to be a starter again. I hope to be against Real Madrid.
"Maybe he [Xavi] has already decided, but normally we don't know until the day of the game.
"Of course we are disappointed after the game against Inter, but we have to change our state of mind. We have to show that we are still a good team."
Clement explains Tavernier omission in Rangers draw with Olympiacos
Philippe Clement explained captain James Tavernier was omitted from Rangers' 1-1 Europa League draw with Olympiacos due to fear of him playing too many games.
The 33-year-old skipper was utilised as a second-half substitute in a game where Cyriel Dessers cancelled out Ayoub El Kaabi's opener at the Karaiskakis Stadium on Thursday.
It was a call that raised a few eyebrows given the criticism Tavernier has faced this season, but Clement said it was just about managing the experienced full-back's minutes.
In quotes reported by BBC Sport, Clement said: "That's never an easy decision, but I want more than one captain in the group.
"If you come at a certain age you can't play 60 games at the same level. We knew that before the season. It's about competition for spots.
"It's about one team, winning together. That's Rangers - one team, one family, going for one goal."
Rangers now have seven points from four games in Europe's secondary competition, sitting just outside the top eight in the table.
Clement, however, was disappointed not to travel home with the win despite being impressed with the performance.
"A very strong performance as a team, sticking to the plan, being very disciplined and using the spaces," he added.
"Disappointed we didn't win the game, that's the next step we need to take. But I saw a lot of positive things and I need to praise the whole team for that.
"I don't want players happy with a point. We went for the three points and that's the mentality I want to see against any opponent.
"Our midfield was massive today. Our defence was really solid. Jack [Butland] didn't have to make many saves."
Rangers are now unbeaten in their last five away matches in the Europa League (W2 D3), equalling their longest such run in the competition’s history (also five unbeaten between October 2020 – March 2021).
Up next in the competition is Ligue 1 side Nice, who drew 2-2 with Enschede on Thursday.
Olympiacos 1-1 Rangers: Dessers leveller rescues valuable away point
Cyriel Dessers earned Rangers a priceless point at the home of the Europa Conference League winners, with his strike securing a 1-1 draw with Olympiacos.
The result left Rangers just outside the top eight in the Europa League table, while Olympiacos are one place further back, having picked up seven points from their four games.
Dessers, however, squandered a golden opportunity in the 11th minute after being sent through on goal, but could only fire his effort at the legs of Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Tzolakis was again on hand to deny the Rangers striker six minutes later, producing a stunning save to tip his effort wide as the Scottish side ended the half in the ascendency.
But their good work was undone shortly after the restart when Chiquinho's smart backwards header found Ayoub El Kaabi, who swivelled and rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
However, Rangers responded eight minutes later, with Dessers finally getting the better of Tzolakis. The Nigerian skipped beyond the challenge of Panagiotis Retsos before curling the ball home.
Both sides pushed to try and find the winning goal in the closing stages, but the spoils were shared at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki.
Data Debrief: Oh I do love playing away
Rangers can leave Greece happy with a point, though could have returned to Ibrox with all three after a strong showing against Olympiacos.
They ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.13 compared to their opponents' 0.68, despite having three less shots throughout the contest.
But their impressive form away from home in Europe continued. They are now unbeaten in their last five away matches in the Europa League (W2 D3), equalling their longest such run in the competition’s history (also five unbeaten between October 2020 – March 2021).
Dessers also impressed for Philippe Clement's side. He has been directly involved in 10 goals across 13 away appearances in major European competitions (eight goals, two assists).
Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham: Osimhen brace downs 10-man visitors
Victor Osimhen's first-half brace sent Galatasaray top of the Europa League table after they edged a five-goal thriller against 10-man Tottenham.
The defeat marked Spurs' first of their European campaign, and they could drop out of the top eight should results go against them later on Thursday.
Galatasaray took the lead with six minutes on the clock in stunning fashion. Archie Gray's headed clearance was collected by Yunus Akgun, who rifled a left-footed effort into the top corner.
But Spurs drew level through a surprise inclusion in their starting line-up as Will Lankshear notched his first senior goal with a simple finish from Brennan Johnson's cross.
However, after seeing an effort ruled out a minute earlier for offside, Osimhen put the hosts back in front, prodding the ball home after sloppy play from Radu Dragusin.
Osimhen then doubled his tally six minutes before half-time, combining again with Dries Mertens, this time planting the Belgian's teasing delivery beyond Fraser Forster.
It went from bad to worse for Ange Postecoglou's side on the hour-mark when Lankshear was shown a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Gabriel Sara.
Hopes of a Spurs comeback were revived in the 69th minute when substitute Dominic Solanke neatly flicked Pedro Porro's cross into the net, but Galatasaray held on for the win.
Data Debrief: Turkish delight
While the score-line suggests a tightly contested affair at Rams Park, Galatasaray were worthy winners against Tottenham.
Okan Buruk's side registered 28 shots compared to Tottenham's five, ending the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 3.28 to their opponents' 1.87.
But having ended the night on a sour note, Tottenham's Lankshear followed in the footsteps of a former Spurs great.
At 19 years and 201 days, he became Tottenham's youngest goalscorer in a major European since Harry Kane (18 years and 140 days) scored against Shamrock Rovers in the 2011-12 Europa League.
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