Saviola slams Barcelona treatment

Want-away Barcelona striker Javier Saviola says he will leave the club ‘with a bitter taste’ in his mouth after negotiations regarding a new contract with the club went badly.

"Everyone knows how they have behaved during all this," said Saviola.

"I cannot point the finger at anyone, but I leave with a bitter taste in my mouth as things were never made clear.

"They have not behaved very well towards me, but that was their decision.

"They have acted like this and only they will know why, but I leave with a clear conscience, knowing that I have tried to do the best that I can here.

"There are a thousand questions that need answering.

"I do not know if I have been made a slave to that contract. It is a question that I would like to know the answer to, but only the people that have made these decisions can answer that."

"They were the ones that have the answers and only they can say why they have done this," he continued.

"I do not know who is more guilty, but the blame can be shared by everyone really."

On reports linking him with bitter rivals Real Madrid, he added: "I have not closed the door to anyone,"

"I will use my professionalism and my judgement to make a decision.

"I do not want to do something just to hurt people at Barcelona.

"I have had some great times, have made many friends and leave with enormous gratitude for many people here.

"I shall only remember the good things, like having played in one of the biggest clubs in the world alongside some of the best players and to be recognised as a good player around the world.

"I have always said that I wanted to finish my contract here and after thinking long and hard about it, I do not regret that.

"Now I am ready for another chapter and I hope that it goes better than this one."