Zayn Malik had planned to part from One Direction a year ago, his JLS pal Oritse Williams has revealed.
The 22-year-old singer has disclosed his plans in confidence to close pal Oritse Williams, 28, on a trip to Las Vegas last September, at which he told him "to be himself and to keep going," the Mirror reported.
They were really blessed guys and he told them that they had had a great run, he added.
Though Malik, who's engaged to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, quit the boy band last month, saying that he wanted to return to being a "normal 22 year old," he has been spotted with his record producer pal Naughty Boy in the studio.