Liverpool midfielder and Argentina captain Javier Mascherano has revealed that he wanted to move to Barcelona last summer. Speaking to the News of the World yesterday, the 25 year old said:
“The situation with Barcelona really affected me. It was a shame it didn’t happen as it was the city I wanted to live in. There were many discussions and problems during that month and a half. They were difficult times for me. One day I was off to Barcelona, the next I wasn’t. And Liverpool said I was non-transferable. Psychologically, it affected me as I couldn’t think in Liverpool and I was focused on other stuff and not on my work, my training and playing. Also we were having problems with Argentina as our qualification to the World Cup was in danger. There was a lot of complicated stuff at that time.”
One of the major factors in his motivation to leave Anfield was the failure of his family to adapt to the language and lifestyle in Liverpool:
“I don’t do much stuff in my free time, that’s the truth. I could go to London with my wife to do some shopping but I have already been to London 1,000 times and if I want to go to another city I would have to take a plane. What kills me about living in Liverpool is that there are only two Argentinians here with me, Emiliano Insua and Maxi Rodriguez. Insua and I live in a private neighbourhood. He lives in one tower and I live in the other. There are 15 metres between us and we used to look at each other through the window. Sometimes Zabaleta comes from Manchester but there is no way Carlos Tevez comes here. If I want to see him, I have to go to his place and knock on his door. He doesn’t like to leave his home. So during the winter, during those four or five months, I have to stay at home all day with my family. I have no problem living in Liverpool, but I think my wife and daughters deserve to enjoy every day to the full and live their lives – but they have to be at home all day. My wife doesn’t speak a word of English, so she depends 100% on me. I live here with them. That’s my world, that’s my life.”
Contract negotiations between Liverpool and Mascherano have stalled in recent days and it is said they will begin again once the World Cup is over.
Once he goes along with Gerrard and Torres, your entire team will be crap and Spurs can go on to even better things, knowing full well that Liverpool’s downwards spiral will be never ending. Scousers can cry and not even their ‘legendary’ sense of humour will cheer them up. Bunch of freaks! Come on you Spurs!
You were saying. How a year makes such a difference. Just a tip, make sure the spuds actually win something before you shoot your mouth off. What a spud. lol!
Poor baby, what a horrible life? Funny how he seemed so happy to get away from the West Ham situation, where he couldn’t even get into the team. Now Barcelona is interested he starts talking about what he deserves? Surely he has learnt from last season, when Barca asked about him, were told the price and didn’t want to pay it. Doesn’t his wife sound like a lazy b!tch though? They probably ‘deserve’ each other. You’re in england, learn the lingo FFS!
sell him asap. bring in 35-40 mill spent that on david silva and add a bit more and buy navas or mata.
No problem,let him go for 35Mil to Barca,and we can have Silva & Banega or go for scott Parker.