- Reports say Messi is scared his friend Mascherano will leave
- Liverpool touted as possible destination
- At EOTK, we think the story is nonsense…
- SEE MORE: Javier Mascherano is leaving Barcelona; Should Liverpool step in…?
There’s a dubious report doing the rounds today that says Lionel Messi is worried his countryman Javier Mascherano will leave for Liverpool upon the expiration of his contract next summer…
The Express have gone with it, although it started in Spain with Diario Gol – not the most respected of publications.
The story suggests that Messi has accepted his friend’s departure to Liverpool – although this doesn’t really make any sense – when PSG or the MLS are far more likely destinations.
The 33-year-old will be leaving Barca, but we doubt Jurgen Klopp would sign a veteran on big wages over a younger, hungrier holding midfielder.
“The focus is to be happy and the decision I make will depend on how things are going,” Mascherano told TyC Sports.
“In Barcelona, it is obvious I am not playing at the frequency I played before.
“I’m still playing, I’m still competing, I’m in a team where every game I play is because I earn it in training, but it’s clear there are many times you want to play more.
“I’m not saying that I have to play more, because the starters are two players of the highest level and there is not much more to do there.”
At EOTK, we’d love a player of Mascherano’s ilk in our midfield, as back in 2007, he was an instrumental cog in Rafa Benitez’s side.
Now though, he’s past his best, although part of us is still romanticising about his potential return.
With Emre Can leaving on a free himself, we do need to buy a batting central midfielder – so it’ll be very interesting to see who Klopp turns to.