Javier Mascherano has stated his ambition of making the World Cup squad with Argentina after making the switch to China Hebei Fortune from Barcelona earlier in January. The Argentine secured his move to the Far East after eight-and-a-half seasons with Barcelona, where he managed 333 appearances, most of which came in a central defensive position.
Argentina international Javier Mascherano has revealed that it was a thankless task of playing in central defence during his seven-and-a-half year spell with Barcelona. The 33-year-old ended his long-term association with the Catalan giants to join Chinese outfit Hebei Fortune last month.
In an exclusive interview with Gerard Pique for The Players' Tribune, Mascherano admitted that he contemplated leaving Barcelona on several occasions previously as he wanted to enjoy more playing time in the central midfield role.
He said: "Let's just say my time at Barcelona is one of contrast in that regard. Because the best years of my career, where I could enjoy myself the most [were at Barcelona], I felt complete as a footballer, but I didn't get the chance to play as a midfielder. But [maybe] that is as if your glass is half empty. Those were the cards which were dealt. But when I had doubts about leaving before, that was why. No one knows better than you [Pique] how thankless a task it is to be a Barca defender. One mistake and you pay dearly."
Javier Mascherano has revealed that he has designs on returning back home to his first club River Plate in Argentina before he retires from the game but he does not want to make such a promise if he isn’t unable to keep to it.
The Barcelona defender started his professional career with River Plate before moving to Corinthians. He then went on to play for West Ham and Liverpool in England before ending up at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is understood to have made a personal plea to manager Ernesto Valverde to involve Javier Mascherano regularly in his first-team plans.
With the World Cup coming along next year, Mascherano would require regular playing time to get into the Argentina squad, and Messi appears to be doing everything within his reach in order to better his compatriot's chances.
Barcelona pair Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi have given the backing to pursue fellow Argentine compatriot Angel di Maria from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
According to Sport, the Catalan giants could turn their attention to the former Real Madrid man after failing to negotiate deals for both Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele. The Argentine has had a good bond alongside Mascherano and Messi at the international level and the duo have given the thumbs-up for his possible arrival regardless of his former links with Los Blancos.
The Real Madrid main rivals, Barcelona, have blocked the Italian Serie A champions, Juventus from completing the summer transfer of the Argentinian star, Javier Mascherano.
Juve, who trashed out Barcelona from the last UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals have been trying to strike a deal for the Argentine man all summer as they are looking forward to strengthening their squad to be stronger in Europe next season.
According to Sport, Barcelona want Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera following his impressive season at Old Trafford.
Javier Mascherano doesn’t think that Neymar deserves to be handed the harshest of the punishments for his actions during the Liga game at La Rosaleda the previous Saturday.
Javier Mascherano has lambasted one of the former members of the support staff of the Argentine senior team.
Carlos Dibos had recently stated that Mascherano along with some of his buddies has created a lobby in the Albiceleste camp and that lobby tries to stamp its authority on the team.
Dibos had also revealed that those few players who are part of the lobby don’t care about any protocols at all that the team management sets.
Barcelona has recently sustained a shocking 0-4 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League 16 tie and now the Spanish club has to perform a miracle in order to reach the quarter-finals of the European competition.
