Claudio Bravo was set to be benched at Barcelona before making the move to join Manchester City, the goalkeeper has told Cadena SER.
Bravo, 33, joined City for a reported £17 million this summer. The former Real Sociedad keeper had spent the past two seasons at the Camp Nou, where he split time with Germany international Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
And the Chilean confirmed on Monday that he was slated for a backup role with the defending La Liga champions this season.
"It was not me that was [first] at Barca, it was Ter Stegen," said Bravo.
"The club made me an offer to renew but, seeing their plans, I also made them understand my position.
"I was very sincere, I did not want to sit on the bench. It's not my thing. And they understood.
"In Barcelona I always devoted myself to doing my best, I always felt the support."
Reports of discord between the two keepers while at Barca weren't uncommon. However Bravo said there was no truth in them.
"What appeared in the press -- that we had a bad relationship and things were uncomfortable at the end -- was not true," Bravo added.
"It was never a problem, indeed, we both always benefitted from the competition."