Henrik Larsson is to join Sweden’s Helsingborg, after changing his mind about spending another year with Barcelona.

“I’m very happy,” Larsson said in an SVT interview after signing the 18-month contract on Thursday.

“I am a Helsingborger at heart … I have built a house in Helsingborg. For me there was no other alternative,” he said.

“We’ve had many good years, but there is a time for everything,” he said, adding that he was looking forward to spending more time with friends and family.

“That’s the only thing I’ve really missed since I moved away … Now it will be possible to be a bit more spontaneous and see people when I feel like it,” he said.

Barcelona had offered to extend Larsson’s contract for another year, and the striker announced in October that he would accept, but later changed his mind.

“Time here has been good. I have come to know another culture,” said Larsson.

The 34-year-old said that after his injury he had initially planned to wind down.

“But when I came back after the injury I felt that I had a lot left to give on a high level. And even though the Swedish championships are at a lower level than here, I feel that I love playing football, and I want to continue doing so as long as possible.”

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