Transfer News: Liverpool agree upon Javier Mascherano bid from Barcelona
Javier Mascherano has been one of the most talked about players this summer due to his on-again off-again transfer saga out of Liverpool. The Argentine had said that he wants to leave and start afresh in a new league. There were rumours that he may be heading to Inter Milan to reunite with his former manager Rafael Benitez, but that did not materialize. It is believed that Liverpool have finally agreed on terms with Spanish Champions Barcelona for the Argentine midfielder.
Last week, Roy Hodgson had said that he still believes that Javier would stay at the club for a further two years and play out his contract. However, after the player refused to play in the match against Manchester City, it was clear that he has only one thing on his mind, and that is to leave the club.
Barcelona had been pursuing the player for a while, but Liverpool had said that Barcelona has not met the asking price for the player. Finally though, it looks like the deal may actually go through.
There was a statement on the official Website of Liverpool that stated: ‘There has been an agreement on terms between Liverpool and Barcelona over the transfer of Javier Mascherano.’
Now Barcelona have permission to speak directly to the player. Personal terms between Barca and Javier would be discussed that would be followed by a medical for the Argentine to finalize the long awaited move.
The current contract for Mascherano at Anfield runs till the end of 2012. He had been saying that he wants to leave England to start a new challenge. Another reason for him wanting to leave was that his wife did not want to move to England. The last bid from Barcelona that was rejected by Liverpool was worth 18 million pounds. Mascherano was not included in the Liverpool side for their European Cup play-off and even though Hodgson had said that he left the player out himself, it is evident that Mascherano did not make himself available and had made it clear that he has played his last match for the Reds.
Roy Hodgson had also said that the Argentine is not being played in Europe due to the rule of being cup-tied, and he would be part of the team against West Brom on Sunday. However, now it is final that Mascherano would be heading to the Nou camp and will be reunited with his national teammate Lionel Messi.
The Spanish champions have confirmed that the deal is to be completed within this week. The prospective contract is believed to be worth 4 years. There was a statement on the website of Barcelona stating that ‘a deal has been agreed upon between Barcelona and Liverpool for Argentina’s Javier Mascherano. And the midfielder would be heading to the club for 4 years’.
The statement went on to say that the deal was finally established by some intensive efforts by Barcelona. There were a number of things to be considered and the player taking interest in the deal made it easier to reach the agreement. The statement further added that Mascherano would be heading to Barcelona for a medical after personal terms with him are finalized. The details of the contract would be published following a successful medical.
Javier is expected to make his way to Barcelona at the end of this week for the medical. He is not expected to be included in the first-team at Barca initially. There are a number of contenders there and he may not get a place instantly. Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez have the central midfield roles well covered. He may be played as an out-and-out holding player.
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