Spanish giant’s appear to give in…at last!

Football - West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool Barclays Premier League

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has given the strongest hint yet that he will not be pursuing the signing of Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano this summer after being out priced by the Reds.

The La Liga and European Champions have been linked with a move for the Argentine international captain, but it is believed Rafa Benitez has demanded a fee of at least £50million.

With the new league season just a fortnight away, Guardiola revealed, “The market is complicated,” he said. “All the signings are very expensive and one of the options is that there won’t be any more reinforcements. We are rich but not as much as others.

“Everyone, for whatever player, is asking for a great deal of money.”

Well at least that particular irritation appears to be over. For a while there it looked as though the Argentine may have had his head turned by the interest shown by the Champions League winners and that in turn may have been fueled by his missus wanting to leave the country, but this news appears to put the kibosh on the transfer.

Javier is a top notch defensive midfielder who’s work rate, determination and speed of thought made him one of the club’s top performers last term and one of the best players in his position in Europe. Now the national team captain and at the peak of his powers the club could ill afford such an irreplaceable player.

As for that other never ending rumour story, you know which one I am referring to, well that still continues to move at a snails pace.

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