New Al Ain midfielder Michel Bastos has insisted that he wanted to stay at Lyon but was forced to leave by the club.
The Brazilian signed a three-year deal with the United Arab Emirates outfit on Friday that brought to an end a seven-season affiliation with Ligue 1.
However, Bastos has revealed that it was Lyon's financial troubles that caused him to exit the Stade de Gerland.
"It was not possible to stay with Lyon. The problem did not come from me. I did not want to leave Lyon," Bastos told RMC. "It was the president who told me he had some difficulties keeping certain players.
"I owe a lot to Lyon. I only left last year because it was Schalke. [President] Jean-Michel Aulas has always told me my return would be impossible for financial reasons. That's why I'm no longer in Lyon."
Bastos spent the second half of last season on loan at Bundesliga club Schalke 04.
Matt Cotton
