(GSM) - New Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has accused former club Liverpool of 'spreading lies' following his move to Camp Nou.
The Argentina captain has completed an £18 million move to the Spanish champions after allegedly refusing to play in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.
But the 26-year-old insists he never went on strike, accusing the Anfield club of spreading lies about him.
He said: "When they started to involve my family and to say things that didn't make sense, I obviously suffered.
"They'd promised me something for a whole year and they never fulfilled their promise. And that didn't have anything to do with my family or anything else. When you read or hear lies, you obviously get angry."
Despite leaving Anfield under a cloud, Mascherano was full of praise for former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, who tried to lure him to his own new club Internazionale.
"Rafa taught me tactics," he said.
"He's one of the coaches who have taught me the most in my career and I'm very grateful to him.
"He was fundamental. He gave me the chance to join Liverpool. He had confidence in me at a time when, perhaps, nobody would have dreamed of giving me an opportunity. I'll be grateful to him all my life."