Roma defender Philippe Mexes says that "listening to the lies" of Auxerre boss Guy Roux has been the hardest part of a turbulent six months.

Mexes has been at loggerheads with Auxerre since his controversial summer move to Italy, which the Burgundy club claim broke FIFA regulations.

The 22-year-old, who allegedly signed for Roma when still under contract with Auxerre, has subsequently been handed a six-week suspension.

He said that news of the ban came as "a great relief" before launching a scathing attack on Roux. "The hardest part has been listening to all the lies," Mexes told France Football Magazine.

"When Guy Roux says that I was not allowed to leave Auxerre and that he hadn’t granted me permission, it’s not true.

"He wanted me to leave but he wanted me to join the club of his choice – in other words the club that were going to pay the most money.

"That’s the truth of the matter," he added. "Unfortunately I wasn’t out of contract like Olivier Kapo or Jean-Alain Boumsong.

"But I had a clause in my contract which, with the help of my advisors, I used."

Mexes moved to Auxerre from his hometown club Toulouse aged 14 and, under Roux’s tutelage, developed into one of the most promising defenders in Europe.

"It’s not easy to leave Auxerre – just ask Bernard Diomède," the blond stopper continued. "But even if I am young, I’m not afraid to defend myself.

"I did it in 2003 when Auxerre did not want to recognise that I’d signed a contract extension - and I have no problem in doing so again."