Tag Archives: Mascherano

Mascherano ends Barca spree

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Barcelona’s sporting vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed that Javier Mascherano’s ‘dream’ move to the Nou Camp completes their transfer dealings for this season (Barcelona 13/5 Champions League Outright).

The Spanish champions swooped to bolster their already impressive midfield options by snapping up Argentina international captain, Mascherano, from Liverpool for a reported £18million on a four-year contract on Monday evening following his five-hour medical.

The Catalan giants, who are aiming to secure the Champions League title this season after failing to emulate their May 2009 success last term, have already snapped up David Villa (11/2f Champions League Top Goalscorer) and Adriano to help them do that.

Bartomeu has now spoken out to reveal that they feel Pep Guardiola’s squad has enough strength in depth to fight it out for the Primera Liga and Champions League.

He said: “The squad is now complete and we will not sign anyone else. We have reached the decision that there is no need to strengthen the team any further.”

Meanwhile Mascherano, who took a pay cut to join Barcelona, could not hide his delight at finally joining the club.

“When I landed I said that I was achieving a dream. At last I will be able to say that I play for Barcelona, the team who I wanted to play for.”

The 26-year-old must now fight it out with some quality players to get into a Barca side that consists of eight of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad.

“It would be stupid if I thought I was going to play all the time. You need to respect the people here who have been doing so well,” he added.

“In my position there are three world champions who have won everything (Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta). For me it is a dream to grow, learn and enjoy playing next to them.”

He added: “I know that they’ve won everything, it’s a team full of great players, with a base of world champions and I will try to be humble and help the team continue winning things.

“I’m going to have the chance to play with players who I admire and I will able to say that I’ve grown and that I’ve been a better player at this club.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime. I will train to be ready when I’m needed.”

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Mascherano completes Barca spree

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Barcelona’s sporting vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed that Javier Mascherano’s ‘dream’ move to the Nou Camp completes their transfer dealings for this season (Barcelona 13/5 Champions League Outright).

The Spanish champions swooped to bolster their already impressive midfield options by snapping up Argentina international captain, Mascherano, from Liverpool for a reported £18million on a four-year contract on Monday evening following his five-hour medical.

The Catalan giants, who are aiming to secure the Champions League title this season after failing to emulate their May 2009 success last term, have already snapped up David Villa (11/2f Champions League Top Goalscorer) and Adriano to help them do that.

Bartomeu has now spoken out to reveal that they feel Pep Guardiola’s squad has enough strength in depth to fight it out for the Primera Liga and Champions League.

He said: “The squad is now complete and we will not sign anyone else. We have reached the decision that there is no need to strengthen the team any further.”

Meanwhile Mascherano, who took a pay cut to join Barcelona, could not hide his delight at finally joining the club.

“When I landed I said that I was achieving a dream. At last I will be able to say that I play for Barcelona, the team who I wanted to play for.”

The 26-year-old must now fight it out with some quality players to get into a Barca side that consists of eight of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad.

“It would be stupid if I thought I was going to play all the time. You need to respect the people here who have been doing so well,” he added.

“In my position there are three world champions who have won everything (Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta). For me it is a dream to grow, learn and enjoy playing next to them.”

He added: “I know that they’ve won everything, it’s a team full of great players, with a base of world champions and I will try to be humble and help the team continue winning things.

“I’m going to have the chance to play with players who I admire and I will able to say that I’ve grown and that I’ve been a better player at this club.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime. I will train to be ready when I’m needed.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Mascherano exit looms following midfield deal

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Javier Mascherano is expected to leave Liverpool in the next week after boss Roy Hodgson completed the capture of his replacement, Christian Poulsen, from Juventus in a deal worth £4.5million (Liverpool 12/1 to win Premier League).

Danish star Poulsen was widely expected to join the Reds this week and, after completing a medical and the formalities of the transfer, has joined Hodgson’s new-look side and penned a three-year deal at Anfield.

The 30-year-old, who knows Hodgson from when he was manager at FC Copenhagen between 2000 and 2002, is seen as a direct replacement for Mascherano, with his defensive midfield and tough-tackling qualities earning him a decent reputation in Serie A in the past few years.

The experienced midfielder could even be in contention to make his Reds bow in the season-opener at home to Arsenal on Sunday as his capture clears the way for Mascherano to leave (Liverpool 11/8 to win, Arsenal 9/5).

The Argentinian, speaking after their 1-0 friendly win over Ireland in Dublin on Wednesday, admitted he wanted to leave the club and is seeking a move out of England amid reports his family have failed to settle on Merseyside.

Mascherano almost joined Barcelona last summer and has expressed a desire to join the Catalan giants again this year while Inter Milan, with former Reds boss Rafa Benitez now in charge at the San Siro, are also courting the 26-year-old.

“The only thing I want to say is I don’t have nothing against the Liverpool supporters, the Liverpool people,” he said.

“My problem is not to play for Liverpool. I’m very proud to play for Liverpool. It’s another thing.

“I said to him (new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson) that maybe for my life I prefer to change the country, not to change the club – that is the fact.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool are also closing in on the capture of Middlesbrough keeper Brad Jones as Hodgson eyes experienced cover for number one Pepe Reina.

Jones is set to join the Reds for just over £2million and will cast doubt on the future of current reserve stopper Diego Cavalieri, who is attracting interest from Benfica.

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Inter make Mascherano enquiry

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Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano is considering a summer move from Liverpool to join Serie A and European champions Internazionale, his agent has confirmed (10/1 Liverpool – Premier League outright).

Mascherano is said to be considering his options after the Merseysiders suffered a poor campaign by their standards, finishing seventh and failing to secure Champions League football next season.

La Liga winners Barcelona have been looking at the Argentina captain for a few seasons, although they are in negotiations with Arsenal over a potential move for Cesc Fabregas which could deter them from signing Mascherano.

With former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez moving to the San Siro this summer, Mascherano could be keen to join his former boss, according to his agent Marco Piccioli.

He said: “We are evaluating the move hard and in the next few days we will have a new meeting to better establish the details of this transfer deal.

“It is no mystery that he is a player liked by Inter and by Benitez. There is nothing concrete at the moment, but we are in the talking phase.”

Mascherano is currently with the Argentina squad at the World Cup in South Africa with the side winning their first two games in Group B.

Diego Maradona’s men are one of the tournament favourites after showing some impressive performances, including a 4-1 romp over South Korea on Thursday thanks to a hat-trick form Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Mascherano has been a key member of the side playing the anchorman role in the middle of the field, allowing players like Lionel Messi to roam free and create chances.

The 25-year-old has not ruled out a move to Inter as has revealed that he is a big fan of the kind of football Benitez likes to play.

He said: “Would I follow Benitez? I don’t know.”

He added: “At the moment I really know little about my future.

“But of course with Benitez at Liverpool I experienced three incredible years. His football is my football.”

Argentina will face Greece (Greece 5/1 draw 13/5 Argentina 4/7 – match betting) in their final game in Group B and look like clear favourites to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

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