Liverpool Midfielder Mascherano Fully Committed to Club Despite Barcelona Interest
by YNWA on October 30th, 2009 318 words | 23 commentsArgentine captain is focused on Anfield future.
Liverpool star Javier Mascherano has denied suggestions his form has been affected by transfer rumours linking him with Barcelona.
Mascherano was linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer with Pep Guardiola a big admirer of the defensive midfielder.
The Argentine international concedes he has not been at the top of his game so far this season, but he is adamant it has nothing to do with rumours over his future.
“Everyone knows Barcelona were interested in me but that’s in the past now,” said Mascherano.
“Liverpool said no and that’s the end of it. Some might say I haven’t been playing well because Barcelona tried to buy me.
“I agree I haven’t been at my best but it’s not because of that. I just haven’t started the season well.” (Sky Sports)
In a way its positive that Javier has come out and admitted what we were all thinking. It seems that the Man United game may have acted as a wake up call for the Argentine midfielder who put in his best performance of the season in the crunch game at Anfield on Sunday and now hopefully all parties can move onwards and upwards.
Clearly Mascherano was interested in a move to the Camp Nou and I am fine with that as long as he can now maintain focus on the pitch. Well done Rafa for fighting off the advances of the Champions League winners because you can guarantee that the clubs owners would have been licking their lips over the potential financial bonus such a sale would have represented.
Javier is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe when he is in form and he showed against United that he has the passion and determination to make things happen at the club and as long as he continues to deliver he will get the full backing of each and every fan in the stands.
YNWA
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Liverpool Midfielder Mascherano Turns Down New Contract as Barcelona Consider £30m Move
anonymous - October 30th, 2009 at 11:30 am
well done
Retryboy - October 30th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Ynwa you have continually slated his performances all season even after the chelsea game when he was immense now you have woken up probably more due to the fact you haven’t based this article from a tabloid story for a change. Believe Barcelona did turn his head and escaped punishment again for doing so but your constant crap about his performances had no basis and a lot of us kept saying that so don’t come out saying what we all knew when we have argued this point with you for months.
znydz - October 30th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Indeed, mascherano is one of the best defensive midfielders.
If masch leave liverpool, it would be a big loss..
Anyway, masch show us a good performance during man u game..
Donavan Ried - October 30th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Sorry, if it sound as if i don’t trust Masch’, but i have learnt in the past that players will say onething and do another when it becomes time to sign on the dotted line ……. I think that Masch’ is a great player, abit hot headed at times but a breat player none the less
Donavan Ried - October 30th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
sorry typo, should read …..but a great player none the less
anonymous - October 30th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Masch’ is terrable, worst player ever to pull on a red top!
anonymous - October 30th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
nope masch is not terrible and ill tell you there has been players like voronin and zenden that are crap to put on the shirt so stfu
Hoogleboogybugleboy - October 30th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
This is what we all wanted to hear. Good on Mascherano. Each player must have the passion to play for the club and the fact that he has come out and said this is a great boost. I hope that he signs a new long term contract now and concentrates on Liverpool Football club.
saif - October 30th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Gerrard has failed to recover from a groin injury sustained earlier this month on international duty, while Johnson suffered a small tear in his calf this week.
Meanwhile, Alberto Aquilani is also a doubt after picking up a virus following his debut against Arsenal in midweek.
Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: “Gerrard still has a problem with his groin so he won’t be available this weekend.
“At this moment he’s working with the physios. He has to keep working and we’ll decide next week how he progresses.
“Johnson has a small tear in his calf, so we will lose him for maybe one week.”
On Aquilani, Benitez added: “In terms of fitness he’s doing well. His ankle is coming on well. The problem we have now is that he has a virus, so it will be difficult for him to be available.
“We will see this afternoon how he feels but he was a little bit sick yesterday.
“He wanted to play against Arsenal and was really pleased to go. He wants to go and play against Fulham but we’ll have to decide how he feels.”
Benitez will also have to do without both Martin Kelly (ankle) and Albert Riera (hamstring) for the journey south.
However, the boss is hoping Fernando Torres will be able to make an impact after he returned with a match-winning display against Manchester United.
Benitez said: “He is improving. He’s been training and working with the physios. We will see if he is a little bit better this weekend. It’s a difficult situation because if you play games, you often don’t have too much time to get fit again.”
Retryboy - October 30th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
We do seem to be cursed at the moment just when it seems we could be looking at a midfield of mascherano, aquilani, gerrard, benayoun, kuyt its snatched away again with all the creativity, balance and work rate that would bring lets hope that gerrards groin doesn’t continue to be a problem after this week and we get to see that midfield very soon
anonymous - October 30th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
read some where that if the problem persists for gerrard then he will undergo surgery
anonymous - October 30th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
voronin and zenden are the two best pool players ever. 10 times the players Masch’ & Gerrard will ever be so put that in your cornflakes!!
anonymous - October 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Its for for squad depth with Juan Mata and Luis Suarez ! Then the people can get injured in peace. I feel bad for gerrard whos been out for quite a while now. im a bit worried bout champions league though cuz we need to win 3/3 to guarantee a place in the knockout. And without the likes of Aqua,Johnson,Gerrard,Torres,Riera, its more unlikely. Fingers crossed and i hope we somehow get to the knockout stage. Orelse we will incur a loss of around 20M
Retryboy - October 30th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Is sounding like op might be needed. Sounds of that tho aquilani is nearly there could have him mascherano and benayoun but that would mean leaving out golden boy lucas
anonymous - October 30th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Where is Lucas’ recognition for doing so well this season. are we going to throw away all the progress he has made. I know some still dont rate him that highly but i believe there is something there. I believe that our line behind Torres should consist of Benayoun, Aqualani and Gerrard; they should be given the freedom to move around behind him how ever they like like Arsenal. The only problem would be when defending. Behind them Lucas and Mashcarano
Retryboy - October 30th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
He has had 3 good games in over a season now its fashionable to stick up for him. He has proved he can be a back up to mascherano not a guaranteed starter by any means.
Red_Phoenix - October 30th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
anonymous – October 30th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
‘I believe that our line behind Torres should consist of Benayoun, Aqualani and Gerrard; they should be given the freedom to move around behind him how ever they like like Arsenal.’
That sounds like a really quality lineup. I’ve not seen much of Aquilani but he looked really good in the 15 minutes against Arsenal. Would love to see this team as Lucas would have to play a more defensive role which is what i think he is best at and going on the past few perfomances he should be able to hold his own.
But we all know Rafa’s love of Kuyt and i’m afraid this is to the detriment of Benayoun because it will probably be Gerrard Kuyt and Aquilani with Benayoun on the subs bench. Kuyt’s hard work is his best asset but he is profligate in the last third and Benayoun’s quality makes the difference so it is unfortunate to see him treated the way he is despite his undeniable talent and guile.
Nontheless, it may well be Lucas that is dropped seing as the other players mentioned are more senior and dependable [hopefully Aquilani is]. So full strength we’d probably look like this:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Aurelio
Aquilani Mascherano
Kuyt Gerrard Benayoun
Torres
I’ve never been a fan of Lucas but it seems i’d prefer anonymous’s team and drop Kuyt as i think the team would play at a faster pace and be more creative with the team like this:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Aurelio
Mascherano Lucas
Aquilani Gerrard Benayoun
Torres
Well, we can only wait and see if Rafa wants to play the quaterback style with Aquilani replacing Alonso or a more fluid attacking style with interchanging positions and mazy runs from the attacking midfielders.
anonymous - October 31st, 2009 at 11:09 am
THE CHOSEN ONE
drop Kuyt? drop Kuyt?
He is the most underatted player in that team. And thats a fact!!!
I keep on saying that the team weve had out all season was good enough to all all their games bar chelski match . While everyone screamed about Alonso leaving and how crap Lucas was.
I didn`t hear it when we beat Man utd . This proves my point. What let us down was mainly defensive errors and at times tactical attacking errors with bad luck.
FULL STOP!!
anonymous - October 31st, 2009 at 11:11 am
THE CHOSEN ONE
This is a public apology to insua who I thought couldnt improve on his shooting. More of that mate and more dangerous crosses and you`ll be there.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
keep it up. Fantastic goal !!
anonymous - October 31st, 2009 at 11:29 am
THE CHOSEN ONE
As much as I love this guy Mascherano . Since we dont have money. If I was rafa id sell him if the offer was 40 mil and we are out of the league by january. Lucas can grow into that role. Id use the money to buy an ace striker who is world class and 24 or 25 years old. Exchange babel in the deal. And in the summer use the 20 mil funds plus what I get for voronin deggam and dessena
to buy a 26 mil left sided midfield player of quality.
Time for our youths to step up if the senior players get injured . We`d win the title if the right people were bought and we`d still have a very competive squad.
Kuyte could play striker or on the right.
Benyoum could play right or supporting striker
Riera could challenge left
The Roman could also anchor as well as plessis
Wed be sorted and gerrard could always go back to middle and make things happen.
My opion , call me mad but its a way forward for 40 mil.
Retryboy - October 31st, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Absolutely mental lucas and mascherano are light years apart when people were talking about selling him before i used the simple test. Would gerrard like trying to get past mascherano in a Barcelona shirt? No way! Would he fancy his chances running at lucas in the same situation? Every time would destroy him! Mascherano is the best at what he does in the world and along with reina, gerrard and torres one of four world class players we have and you lot think off the back of a couple of average performances where he has managed to get through the game without messing anything up majorly lucas is in the same league? Just crazy!
anonymous - October 31st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
anonymous – October 31st, 2009 at 11:09 am
THE CHOSEN ONE
drop Kuyt? drop Kuyt?
He is the most underatted player in that team. And thats a fact!!!
Well if it comes to dropping Lucas for Kuyt to play, especially in the big games, i’d prefer that but my point is when it comes to Kuyt or Benayoun, i’d pick the Isreali 10 times out of 10.
Red_Phoenix - October 31st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Anonymous @ 3pm was me by the way