Marc Bartra said he was "thrilled" to get the chance to join Borussia Dortmund after his Barcelona career went sour, telling Radio Marca: "I was on an upwards ascent until Luis Enrique arrived."
Bartra, 25, had been at the Camp Nou since 2002 but opted to move to Dortmund this summer after he struggled to establish himself in the first team during Luis Enrique's two-year reign.
Asked about his relationship with Luis Enrique, he said he did not "want to go into details" but added: "The coaching staff and the president showed me they wanted me to be at the club but it is one thing to be valued and another thing to feel valued.
"There were moments last season when I felt nothing and when Dortmund's offer came I was thrilled."
Bartra made his Barca debut under Pep Guardiola in 2010 and was made a permanent member of the first-team squad under Tito Vilanova in 2012-13.
He then started 24 games and made six substitute appearances in all competitions under Gerardo "Tata" Martino in 2013-14 and broke into the Spain national team that season, but his progress stalled under Luis Enrique.
Having made 22 starts and five substitute appearances in 2014-15, he started only 12 games last season, with a further 16 appearances from the bench.
"When I made my debut under Pep, I felt his confidence," he said. "Tito decided to put me in the first team. With Tata I played practically 30 games which gave me the chance to play for the national team.
"I was on an upwards ascent until Luis Enrique arrived. I started well with him, but later I stopped counting. It was a tough 18 months for me."
"I was �� and then I was left out of the Clasico ��. I knew I had to leave Barcelona." https://t.co/hMOkcyTrlQ pic.twitter.com/Dc6EH6tVxv
- MARCA in English (@MARCAinENGLISH) July 12, 2016
He said he had decided to leave Barca after playing 82 minutes of Spain's 2-0 friendly victory over England in November before being left out of the squad for the 4-0 win over Real Madrid eight days later.
"One of the highlights of my season was returning to the national team," he said. "I played a match against England and was really happy yet I was then left out of the Clasico. It was at that moment it was clear I shouldn't stay at Barcelona."
He said he has no plans for a future return as things stand.
"I'm only thinking about Dortmund and making my debut there," he said. "I have a four-year contract. The best way to have a good future is to think about the present.
"I'm going to give my all. I've been transferred. I'm not in no-man's land. Borussia didn't accept a buy-back option."