The Brazilian star Raphinha Diaz admitted that he was close to leaving FC Barcelona during the last summer transfer window.

He said: "I was thinking about leaving Barcelona after the Copa America because I wasn't comfortable mentally, and then Flick called me. This period was very tumultuous; every day there were news reports saying I was going to one team or another."

He continued: "Things didn't go as they should have; I had a season below expectations, and I saw people demanding my departure. Every day brought news about my exit."

He added: "I seriously thought about leaving; Flick called me and asked me to come for training before making a decision because he wanted to talk to me and was counting on me. This was a turning point in my decision to stay."

He went on: "I talked to my wife and told her: If this man is fair and sees the effort in training, I will make him like me in a week, and he won't regret it, and I believe I was right."