Zayn Malik Says He 'Always Wanted' to Leave One Direction and His Bandmates Knew

Zayn Malik knew early on he wasn't meant for One Direction.

"I just gave it a go because it was there at the time," the 23-year-old singer said in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music's Beats 1 radio.

"I think I kinda always wanted to go," Zayn revealed. "From the first year, I never really wanted to be there in the band."

"When I realized the direction that we were going in, mind the pun, with the music, I instantly realized it wasn't for me," he added. "How do you write a song from five people's perspective?"

Interestingly, Zayn said that his bandmates were always aware of his dissatisfaction.

"I think the boys knew that in terms of the music, that wasn't my cup of tea," he said, claiming that the other Direction guys anticipated his departure.

"When I was leaving the band, they didn't want me to leave," Zayn continued. "But I'd already made up my mind at that point."