Samir Nasri has claimed Pep Guardiola urged him to stay at Manchester City and fight for his place.
Nasri was one of four City players allowed to leave the club on Wednesday, the midfielder joining Spanish side Sevilla on a season-long loan.
His future at City looked bleak in the summer, particularly after new boss Guardiola revealed the 29-year-old reported for pre-season training overweight - but Nasri said the Spaniard had in fact wanted him to fight for his place.
He told Sevilla's website: "Guardiola, until the last moment, tried to make me stay but I was clear I wanted to leave and go to a place where I could give my best level.
"I was looking for a family club and in Sevilla I have found just that, but until the last moment I haven't been able to leave."
Nasri is confident he can soon get up to speed at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
"I'm fine, because I played last weekend with Manchester City," he said. "I am very excited and I hope to do my best."
Nasri spent six months on the sidelines last season after suffering a serious thigh injury which required surgery after muscle and tendon were detached from the bone.
He said: "Last year was difficult for me both on and off the field but the time I was injured helped me to step back and reflect. I learned a lot in the last year."