EPL News: Mascherano expected to join Inter Milan
Liverpool’s star defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano had the desire of switching his allegiance from Liverpool to another club before the end of last season. With the start of the summer season, Mascherano was receiving bids from all over the place.
Clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan were linked with him but nothing was confirmed. But just before the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the scenario began to change.
At present, Mascherano had finally made up his mind that he will join former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez at San Siro where he would play for Inter Milan.
Mascherano time and again asked the Liverpool board to confirm the deal but nothing came to the fore. The board represented him with no answers and then the World Cup began. During the World Cup, the Argentinean midfielder gave a spectacular performance because of which Argentina proceeded to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Eventually, they were thrashed out of South Africa by a 4-0 drubbing from Germany. However, the La Albiceleste went back home to a heroes’ welcome. Because of the star status after their exit, the price and value of many Argentineans players increased. Mascherano obviously benefited from this too.
After the World Cup, the demand for the 26-year-old maestro grew again and Inter Milan placed a proper bid for him after Mascherano himself asked his former manager Rafael Benitez to bring him out of his miseries at Merseyside.
Liverpool is under a severe financial crisis and though there are potential buyers on the verge of signing the club, there are a couple of issues where both parties are failing to mutually agree upon. Mascherano has informed that the change of ownership though does play a part as he would want his former club to prosper but that is not the only reason why he wants to make a change from his current club.
Mascherano collaborated that he wants a change in his life and a change of club would be what he would like. He has also admitted that he would prefer to have it at Inter Milan with his former coach as he has an excellent understanding with him as he trusts him.
Mascherano was among the few players in Liverpool who had said that Benitez should not be sacked. According to Benitez, he left Liverpool because the failing American ownership promised him enough funds to rebuild his squad but at the start of the summers they handed him 5 million pounds. He stated that it was then that he decided he can’t stay at Liverpool.
Benitez along with other players had been demanding fresh blood in the team for a long time if the club needed to rejuvenate. Nevertheless it was Benitez’s fault as he couldn’t manage a better season with the club.
Though there were unfortunate injuries but draws against mediocre teams and victories turned into losses.
Mascherano however still trusts the Spaniard who is now in charge of the Champions League winners from last season. Mascherano has also stated that he also wants to play in a team that guarantees appearances in Champions League and that is another reason why the star wants to play for Inter Milan.
While talking to media he stated, “The only thing I want to say is I don't have nothing against the Liverpool supporters, the Liverpool people. My problem is not to play for Liverpool. I'm very proud to play for Liverpool. It's another thing”.
He continued, “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 and that is the fact”.
He further reckoned about media reports saying, “Sometimes you can see all the things that the papers or the press say, but at the end the only thing I can say is thank you to everyone in Liverpool because they supported me all the time, from the beginning until now”.
Liverpool’s last game against Arsenal will be the last match in which Mascherano will play for the Reds. The deal hasn’t been confirmed yet with rumours sparking up a contract from Camp Nou where the Barcelona board has stated the a deal is imminent. He was also linked with Real Madrid but interest from the club has been dissolved as of now.
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