Theo Hernandez has spoken out on his controversial departure from AC Milan in the summer, claiming that he was forced out of the club.

The French international left the San Siro in July after six seasons, joining Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

In total, Hernandez made 195 appearances for Milan, scoring 31 goals to surpass Paolo Maldini’s long-standing record of 29 to become the club’s highest-scoring defender.

The 28-year-old has made a strong start to life in Saudi Arabia, registering five goals and two assists from 16 appearances for Al-Hilal this season.

In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Hernandez insisted that leaving Milan was never part of his plans, but said the club’s hierarchy pushed him out the door.

“I never thought about leaving,” he said. “My priority was to stay. They said I was asking for exorbitant amounts or that I was pushing to leave… all false.

“I deserved better treatment. I didn’t expect it. Some teammates encouraged me to stay, but when someone from the management calls you and tells you, ‘if you stay, we cut you from the team’, what can I do? I’m looking for something else.”

Hernandez also spoke of the important role Maldini, Milan’s former technical director, played, while acknowledging consistent errors during his time in Italy.

“With [Maldini] everything was different. [Zlatan Ibrahimovic] was a reference point, yes, but after Paolo, everything got worse.

“I know I made mistakes, like the red cards against Fiorentina or Feyenoord, but we are human. I was not mentally calm and could have done better. Even so, the fans know who Theo was at Milan.

“I finally have the opportunity to talk about it. There are people who want to ruin your life and career. It hurt me to read certain things, but my family knows that they are not true.

“The day Maldini called me to meet him was the best day of my sporting life. We chatted in Ibiza over an orange juice.

“If I am who I am, and if I became Milan’s top-scoring defender, it is thanks to him. We are still in touch. I have his dedicated shirt: ‘Theo, my worthy heir’. It thrills me every time I see it.”