Former Paris Saint-Germain player Ezequiel Lavezzi has surprised fans by saying that he never enjoyed playing in Ligue 1.
The Argentina international previously claimed that he had turned down offers from Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester United instead accepting a huge offer to play in the Chinese Super League, stating that the move helped secure his family's future.
The 30-year-old winger left the French team last month to join Hebei China Fortune.
In an interview in L'Equipe on Wednesday, the ex-Napoli player admitted that during his three-and-a-half years spent in Paris he struggled to get excited about French league matches.
"It was good but not as good as I had hoped," Lavezzi admitted. "I never managed to do and give all that I was capable of.
"I didn't like Ligue 1. I didn't find it motivating. That's it - the truth. But it's not an excuse.
"PSG were really strong compared to the other teams... I didn't really enjoy myself during the matches.
"Time passed, I lost my motivation and I lost my place. It was different in the Champions League. I was always motivated."
Despite being a popular figure in the PSG changing room, Lavezzi says that he never discussed this "personal issue" with his then coaches, Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc.
Although there is a lot of hype around PSG's big match against southern rivals Marseille, Lavezzi went on to say to L'Equipe that he found the competition in Serie A was more stimulating.
"Italy is different," he said.
"You play eight big matches during the season and in France it's two. It makes a big difference."