Speaking to Mozzart Sport in a wide-ranging interview since he completed his free transfer to Besiktas, the Serbia striker rejected the widely repeated version of events around his Juventus exit.
"For three years it was written that I refused to extend, that I didn't want to talk to the club about renewing my contract," Vlahović said.
"The only truth is that I never had a specific conversation with the club about it. There were a few informal mentions, but nothing concretely structured — we never actually sat down to discuss it."
He traced the breakdown back to how his final season in Turin began.
"I was coming off a difficult year. I started on the bench because I was entering the last year of my contract — in my view, that was the only reason," he said, pointing to the arrivals of Lois Openda and Jonathan David as added competition that he says he accepted without complaint, even as pressure mounted from supporters and the media.
"There was a lot of pressure on me that bothered me, because I know what the truth is and I know what happened."
Vlahović pointed to a serious injury suffered six months before his contract expired as evidence of his commitment to the club regardless of his situation, and admitted some moments were harder to stomach than others.
"I don't think it's pleasant when the stadium whistles at you in a friendly against the Under-23 team," he said. Despite the frustration, he was warm in his assessment of his four and a half years at the club:
"It was a great honour and a great pleasure for me to have had the opportunity to be part of it, to wear the Juventus shirt, to play, to represent the club and to score goals. It's a huge shame not to have had the chance to fight for more, to have more opportunities to win trophies, but I'm sure a club like Juventus will get back on that path as soon as possible."
He singled out head coach Luciano Spalletti for praise.
"I thank him for everything he did for me last year, both when I was injured and when I was fit, and for his desire to keep me at Juventus," Vlahović said, before leaving the door open to an eventual return.
"In football you never know what can happen. I've made mistakes in the past saying certain things — it's a question of youth, inexperience, being reckless. So I don't rule out any option. That club gave me a lot and I tried to repay it in the best way possible at every moment."
Explaining his eventual choice of Besiktas over interest from elsewhere, Vlahović credited the Turkish club's persistence throughout the summer and, above all, the presence of a familiar face.
"In life you have to go where you're wanted most," he said. Besiktas president Serdal Adalı travelled personally to Belgrade to meet him, but it was his former Fiorentina coach, Vincenzo Italiano, who proved decisive.
"Then, obviously, the coach — who I know very well and worked with at Fiorentina. That's perhaps the most important thing," Vlahović said. "I had talks with several different clubs, but I believe I've made the best decision for my career at this moment. Time will tell, but I'm convinced of it."