Javier Mascherano has accused Liverpool of making broken promises which led him to take a pay cut to join Barcelona.
The 26-year-old responded angrily to suggestions that the key motivation in joining the reigning La Liga champions was due to his family being largely unsettled, despite his wife and children residing in Buenos Aires for most of his time in England.
Mascherano, who completed his protracted £20million move to the Nou Camp earlier this week, was omitted from the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City last week and insists that Liverpool reneged on a promise that he could leave the club this summer.
The Argentina captain claims he was denied a move to the Catalan giants 12 months ago but was told that he would be allowed to join them should the Reds receive an acceptable offer before the transfer window closed on Tuesday.
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."
Barcelona were highly vocal in their praise of Mascherano for taking a pay cut on the £70,000-per-week salary he earned at Anfield and whilst the player reciprocated the sentiments, he also paid a tribute to Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez, who signed him from West Ham.
"Rafa taught me tactics. 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 added.
"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."
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