Javier Mascherano, the Argentina captain, has criticised Liverpool's behaviour during his protracted move to the Spanish side Barcelona.

The defensive midfielder signed for Barca this week, after several weeks in which the Premier League refused to lower their asking price of £18million - a fee that they did receive. He had reportedly said he wanted to move because his family had not settled on Merseyside, a claim he denies.

He took a pay cut to complete the transfer, and claims the club went back on promises to allow him to leave Anfield. He accused the club of spreading lies about his mental state and family, to portray him in a negative light.

"When they started to involve my family and to say things that didn't make sense, I obviously suffered," he said.

"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."