Morgan Schneiderlin has told RMC he owed Southampton too much to force them into selling him this summer.
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Schneiderlin, 24, was virtually unknown inside his native France, never mind outside it, when he arrived on the south coast of England from Strasbourg in 2008.
But after helping the Saints into the Premier League, the defensive midfielder has consistently caught the eye, eventually earning himself international recognition and even a place in France's World Cup squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Linked to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli, Schneiderlin acknowledged he was ready to leave St. Mary's upon his return from South America.
However, he accepts he had to stay after the departures of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw had decimated a promising squad, and that the faith the club had shown in him had to be repaid.
"My situation was clear: at the end of the year, my aim was to leave to make a step up and play in a club that was in the Champions League or the Europa League," Schneiderlin said.
"There were offers on the table, but Southampton made a clear choice, which was to keep me after the departures of several key players. They're counting on me for the future.
"They blocked, me, I have to accept that. I still have three years left on my contract. I couldn't allow myself to sulk and not play. I owe a lot to Southampton, who have enabled me to get into the French national side.
"I couldn't allow myself to go against the supporters, who have been great with me. It wouldn't have been cool on my part to launch into an endless fight."