Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has dismissed reports that Javier Mascherano could move to Barcelona.
Walter Tamer, the player’s agent, said yesterday that the Argentina international would be interested in a switch to the Nou Camp but Benitez has insisted he is not for sale.
“Mascherano has no price,” the Spaniard told the club’s website. “Barcelona could not afford to match his value to Liverpool Football Club. We do not want to sell and Javier is very happy here.”
Benitez added that he had conveyed his views to Tamer. “Walter told me that two clubs with big, big names were asking after Mascherano. I told him to forget it, that Javier was happy in Liverpool. He has a long contract and any club can forget about bidding for him. They can offer £40million or even £50m, we don’t want to sell.”
Tamer had said that Mascherano would fit in well at Barcelona, who won the Spanish domestic double and the Champions League. “If a club like Barcelona want to bring you into their ranks after having completed such a brilliant season and having won everything, as a player, you are going to say, ‘Yes, I want to play there’,” Tamer said.
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“It is an honour for Javier that a club like Barca to pay such close attention to him. A transfer would be feasible. If Barca really want him, he will sign for them.
“He would have a very easy job at Barca. Sometimes we talk and joke that the only thing he has to do is run, rob the ball, and pass it on to all the superstars in front of him.”