The Argentinean ace managed to impress throughout the previous season, playing out of position in a centre-back role; therefore, he will be signing a new deal for the Catalans.
Javier Mascherano was a surprise signing made by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809
man from the Premier League.
Even though he was tested as a holding midfielder during the start of his career at Barcelona, he was later played in a centre-back role by the Catalan coach.
Josep Guardiola had other plans for the holding midfielder, and no one really thought that the Catalan manager will be playing Javier Mascherano in the centre-back position.
However, it was his luck that the club captain, Carles Puyol had a knee problem during that season and Barcelona desperately needed an experienced player in the centre-back role, to aid http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Pique in that position.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Mascherano-c18071 was pivotal throughout the season and even though Carles Puyol was fully fit to perform in the Champions League final against Manchester United, Guardiola decided against playing him in the first-team and it was Javier Mascherano who played
in the centre-back role throughout the game.
Barcelona won the match with the final score-line 3-1 and it was Mascherano who was able to give out a solid performance in the centre-back role.
After winning the Champions League, Mascherano was able to make his position in the centre-back role and there were times when Eric Abidal was out injured and while playing in a three-man defence line, Mascherano partnered up with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carles-Puyol-c8331 and Gerard
Pique to help the team at the back.
Since Mascherano has proven himself as an important player for Barcelona, an official statement, recently released by Zubizarreta, claimed that the Argentinean star will be signing a new contract for Barcelona.
While speaking to the press, Zubizarreta said:
"Negotiations over Mascherano's renewal are at a very advanced stage," Zubizarreta said at a press conference.
Javier Mascherano is expected to start the season as a first-team regular, since Puyol is still recovering from a knee injury which he picked up during the later part of the season.
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