Mateo Joseph claims Daniel Farke told him it would be fine if he did not attend the Leeds United pre-season training camp in Germany.
Farke spoke publically of his disappointment after Joseph did not travel, having also been absent for the trip to Sweden for their first friendly against Manchester United. The manager accepted the latter decision due to the player's late return to training after being afforded additional time off after representing Spain at the European Under-21 Championship.
Leeds then played SC Verl in their second game of the summer. Farke afterwards addressed the situation surrounding Joseph this summer.
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"We expected him to train and travel with us," the Leeds manager said. "He mentioned that he didn't feel ready for the trip to Stockholm. I accepted this because he started later with training.
"The day after, he said he didn't feel ready to travel to play the friendlies here in Germany. It's not a situation I like.
"I've spoken honestly to him and strongly recommended him to be professional, but he said he's not in a mental state to do this. What should I do?
"I can't call the police to drag him here on the training pitch. It was his decision."
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Joseph has now addressed those comments during an interview with The Athletic. "This season, he (Farke) told me that he wasn't counting on me," he said.
"Then I saw that there were quotes (saying) he told me that I didn't want to go to Germany, that he couldn't force me.
"That wasn't the case. He (Farke) told me that it was fine if I didn't go.
"In the end, these are situations that are disappointing in the world of football because, ultimately, I consider myself an honest person, and I want that to be reflected when people talk about me. That's why I try to be a good person and work hard every day.
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"The most important thing is to have a clear conscience, and I have a very clear conscience that I gave it my all, I worked hard and gave 100 per cent, and I got the most out of that situation. Now I'm eager to continue getting the most out of every situation from now on."
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