Nabil Fekir has hit back at suggestions he didn't join Liverpool because of a knee problem.
Fekir, 26, was heading for Anfield from Lyon in the summer of 2018 in a stunning £53m deal.
But the move fell through at the 11th hour after concerns from the European champions over a long-standing knee problem.
France international Fekir got his move away from Lyon this summer, joining La Liga side Real Betis.
But there remains plenty of questions over exactly why his transfer to Anfield did not go through.
Fekir has now finally addressed the failed move and angrily rejected claims his family played a part in not joining Liverpool.
"Lots of lies were told and they affected me," Fekir told L'Equipe.
"Especially those told about my family. It hurt them and me. Especially when you know that's what being told is false.
"What was said is not the truth. My knee is good - I had a quick medical check at Clairefontaine (France's national training base) - my knee wasn't even mentioned.
"But the worst thing is the idea that people could suggest that it's because of my family that the transfer didn't happen. It's a lie. But you have to live with it."
Pushed for the real reason Liverpool pulled the plug on the transfer, Fekir admitted he was still in the dark.
"You want the truth? Even I don't know - I promise you! I did my medical and then [Liverpool] decided not to sign me," he added.
"At some point they wanted to have me believe it was because of my knee - but an excuse needed to be found.
"The medical tests that I did at Clairefontaine were very clear - my knee is perfectly fine and I feel fine. There are no issues at all with my knee."
