I'm keen to stay, says Mascherano
Andy Hunter
Thursday October 11, 2007
The Guardian
Javier Mascherano has told Rafael Benítez he is prepared to commit his future to Liverpool, although it will take £17m to make the Argentinian's wish become reality.
Liverpool have paid £1.5m to hire the 23-year-old from Kia Joorabchian's Media Sports Investments group for 18 months - a compromise that overcame third-party ownership problems when the midfielder moved from West Ham in January - and have an option to buy. "I'm very happy here. I feel settled and would like to play at the new stadium when it opens," Mascherano said. "I love playing for Liverpool and if the manager wants to keep me then I'd definitely stay for a long time. In the next four to five years I can see this club getting even bigger."
The Argentinian added that he had no complaints about the manager's methods. "In South America, rotation isn't such a problem," he said. "Big teams play a lot of games and that means it's necessary to use a squad rather than just 11 players. Rafa's been here for three full seasons and he's always used rotation. Why would he stop working that way when it has brought him so much success here and at Valencia?"
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2188415,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=7Rafael Benítez remains cautious of Javier Mascherano red tape
Oliver Kay
Liverpool are eager to secure the long-term future of Javier Mascherano but will proceed with caution before deciding whether to meet the £17 million buyout figure demanded by Kia Joorabchian, the businessman who owns the Argentina midfield player’s “economic rights”.
Mascherano joined Liverpool in an unusual lease arrangement in January, with the Merseyside club paying Joorabchian’s company, Media Sports Investment (MSI), a loan fee to secure the player’s services until the end of this season. Under the terms of that agreement, Liverpool can sign a long-term deal with Mascherano before June 30 next year by paying MSI £17 million and assuming control of his economic rights as well as his playing registration, but planned changes to Fifa’s regulations on third-party ownership mean that the club will wait before deciding to pay that sum.
What is not in doubt is Liverpool’s desire to keep Mascherano. The player had five torrid months at West Ham United last season, but since moving to Anfield he has recaptured the form that made him one of the most coveted talents in world football.
Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, is determined to secure Mascherano’s services for the long term, although there is interest in him from Real Madrid and at least one of the Italian clubs who, along with Manches-ter United, pursued him before his surprise move to West Ham. The 23-year-old has indicated that he would be happy to stay at Anfield. “I love playing for Liverpool and, if the manager wants to keep me, I’d definitely stay for a long time,” he said.
The signing of Mascherano is one of several moves planned by Benítez, although his activity in the January transfer window might not stretch far beyond the purchase of a central defender and a forward – if he cannot wait to offload Peter Crouch. The England forward has fallen dramatically out of favour and appears to have no long-term future at Anfield.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article2633740.ece£17m? Represents a bargain as far as I'm concerned. How much would clubs like Real Madrid have paid for Vieira in their prime? £30m odd wasn't it? Mascherano can be in that league. No question. He can make as much of an impact here as Keane or Vieira did at their clubs. Sign sign sign.
please sign.
