English Premier League News: Javier Mascherano arrives at Barcelona; medical all set with transfer signing on Monday
Javier Mascherano has arrived in Spain, but that doesn’t mean the transfer has officially taken place, as the player has yet pass the medical examination.
To officiate the transfer to the Catalan giants Barcelona from English Premier League side Liverpool, the Argentinean captain would have to pass this last little obstacle and though Liverpool have announced the transfer, Barcelona will only confirm when everything is cleared.
Mascherano has already had the pleasure of a photo-shoot for the club in Barcelona, and has said that he is eagerly waiting to sign in the final papers. A few officials from Camp Nou have been beside themselves and making statements of his arrival and transfer, but it will only be the utmost highest level of hierarchy that is going to welcome him to Barcelona after a troubled summer at Anfield.
In the photo-shoot organized by the Spanish giants, many prominent officials from Barcelona welcomed the 26-year old player to Camp Nou. There were a large number of fans present on the occasion too.
Mascherano looked exuberant over his arrival. He quite literally skipped around the place in joy as he posed for the picture, happy that at last the Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson had let him go.
“It is a dream because of the team Barcelona have, because of all they have achieved in recent years and because Lionel Messi and Gabriel Milito have told me that this is a great squad of players and people,” he added.
21 million Euros (or 17.2 million pounds) is the amount of money that took for it to happen, with an additional clause in the deal that if Barcelona is able to win the league this season, they will pay an excess of 3 million pounds to Liverpool. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is pleased at Mascherano’s arrival, and wrote on the club’s official website: “[Javier] Mascherano will give us many things and I want to congratulate him and the club, who did things well.”
“He is much more than a defensive player. He has a great touch, keeps things simple, is very strong and will add a lot to our midfield. Also, despite being young, he has great experience and we have references that he is a good person too.”
Sources have revealed that the final announcement for Mascherano’s arrival will be announced on Monday, after the men from Catalonia have conducted the medical examination at 8 am in the morning. When the medical has been cleared, the player will sign the transfer papers and his time with Barcelona will begin with a press conference.
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