Javier Mascherano

Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong has said that he must remain hungry in order to show improvement during the course of his career. The Netherlands international has already agreed to join Barcelona from Ajax on a five-year contract and he is expected to link up with his teammates during this summer’s pre-season tour.

Speaking to reporters, De Jong indicated that he has plenty of room for improvement, considering he is still far off from becoming one of the best midfielders. He added that he is unperturbed by the £65m price tag paid to lure him to the Camp Nou and he has the knowledge of where he needs to improve in his game.

Vissel Kobe striker David Villa has heaped praise on Lionel Messi after he crossed the 40-goal mark for Barcelona for the tenth second running. The Argentine is widely regarded as the best footballer of the current generation and he has continued his merry ways this term with 42 goals across all competitions for the Blaugrana.

Speaking to reporters, Villa said that Messi’s exploits don’t surprise many of his former teammates including himself, given he has maintained a high level of performance over an extended period of time, the former World Cup winner told Reuters: “It is difficult to be surprised with Leo. He is the best. He has always shown everybody in the world that he is the best... Every game that you can watch him is a pleasure. Obviously (there were) Pele, Maradona, players like (Johan) Cruyff. I didn't have the opportunity to watch them like I watched Messi every day, every game... But, for me, Messi is the best,' said Villa. He is good in everything that he does.”

West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini believes Declan Rice has the potential to become better than Javier Mascherano during the prime of his career. The midfielder has enjoyed a sublime season for the east London outfit this term and this has already earned him his maiden call-up to the England national team.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Lanzini praised the progress of Rice in the past 20 months and suggested that he has the credentials to become a better footballer than compatriot Mascherano, he said: “Declan for me is the hero of the team. He is a very young player, but it is as if he has played 200 games. He is amazing.

Last year on January 24th, 2018, Javier Mascherano signed up with Hebei, China Fortune and later on May 2nd, 2018 scored his very first goal for the same against Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C.

That makes up a year since Javier Mascherano, left FC Barcelona. So it is a perfect time for one good flashback. Let us time travel in August 28, 2010, when Javier Mascherano signed up a four-year contract with Barcelona. At that time he told in Barca TV that “The truth is it’s a dream, it’s a great joy”. Later on, he showed his presence very well in those four years and also later on when he extended his stay with Barcelona by signing a contract again with the same, on 7th June 2014.

Netherlands international Frenkie de Jong has revealed that Barcelona had provided him assurance of regular gametime in order to acquire his signature. The Ajax midfielder had been fancied to join Paris Saint-Germain in a pre-contract agreement earlier in the month but in a strange change of events, the Blaugrana managed to pursue his services.

In a report covered by Marca, De Jong acknowledged that it would be difficult to break into the first-team squad of the Catalan giants, once he makes the switch to the club during the summer. However, he added that assurances were offered regarding the gametime and he expects opportunities to impress with the first-team, he said:“I know that it will be difficult to break into the first-team, but the club have said all of the right things and have made it clear that I will get my chance.”

Alisson, the Liverpool goalkeeper has made a new record with his sixteenth Liverpool game without a defeat. This puts him above Javier Mascherano on the list of all faultless stars. Liverpool is known to have invested a great deal on the Brazilian international goalkeeper for summer since they planned on addressing the obvious weaknesses in relative areas.

The transfer fee of £65 million has made him one of the most expensive ones in world football for some time with Jurgen Klopp preparing to speculate for accumulating. It looked like the money had been spent well in the opening months of that season.

Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt has compared himself to Barcelona’s Gerard Pique in terms of his style of play. The Netherlands international has been strongly linked with the Catalan giants since the summer and the teenager has now fuelled more speculation by citing that Ajax and Barcelona play a similar kind of football.

In an interview with Sport, the Dutch teenager said: “I am similar to him [Pique. I like to carry the ball out from the back. Defensively I am strong and, like Gerard, I also started as a midfielder. “Ajax’s style of play is similar to Barcelona’s. High press, a high defensive line, and a high level of ball possession.”

Argentina legend Diego Maradona does not fancy the prospect of Lionel Scaloni being in charge of the national team. The South American heavyweights were expected to make a big-name appointment after the departure of manager Jorge Sampaoli following a disappointing World Cup campaign but they have for now stuck with Scaloni on an interim basis.

Speaking to reporters, Maradona highlighted the disappointment after Argentina failed to meet their expectations at the World Cup and believes they should have recruited a better head coach than Scaloni, who does not have the reputation by his side, he said: “It hurt me a lot what happened at the World Cup because there wasn’t respect.

Inter Milan’s summer signing Lautaro Martinez is hoping to earn a call-up to the Argentine national side after making a good impression for the Nerazzurri in pre-season. The 20-year-old has been one of the standout performers for Inter during pre-season with four goals and he is now optimistic of being called up for the upcoming set of international friendlies.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “Hopefully I can be called-up. I’m going to keep working to complete my objective.” Meanwhile, Martinez spoke about his friendship with compatriot Mauro Icardi, who is presently the captain of the Nerazzurri, he added: “We get along very well and he’s helped me a lot on a day to day basis. We are taking advantage of it and we are very happy with what we are doing.”

Colombia manager Jose Pekerman has admitted that Japan were the better team in the World Cup encounter and deserved to beat the South American outfit. Colombia witnessed Carlos Sanchez sent off in just the third minute after denying a clear goalscoring opportunity with his hand and shortly after, Shinji Kagawa converted the resultant penalty.

Thereafter, Japan had the better chances to find the scoresheet but Juan Quintero pulled things level for Colombia with a brilliant free-kick prior to the break. Despite this, Japan continued to push for the winner amid the tired legs in the opposition side and Yuya Osako bagged the match-winning goal for the Samurai Blue in the 73rd minute.