Mascherano agent invites Barcelona to bid

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Walter Tamer invited Barcelona to make a bid in an interview with Argentinian news site Infobae:

"The only truth is that Barcelona didn't yet make any concrete offer. It looks like it was all just speculation so far. I don't think money could be the problem. Until there's no concrete offer, there won't be any progress because Liverpool, that doesn't seem willing to sell, is not given the chance to say what they ask for the player.

Barcelona would be the easiest deal to set up given the fact that Javier wants to go to Spain. He is tired of life in England, mainly because of the situation of his wife, who has never been given a permanent visa, which makes travelling a real problem. Messi has made publicly clear that he wants Mascherano to join him, he can't do more than that. Now it looks like he will be the only Argentinian in Barcelona, since Milito is staying in Argentina because of his injury."

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Liverpool rejects first bid for Mascherano

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has made Liverpool a few days ago a 20 million euro° bid for Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) through the player's agent Walter Tamer but that the English club has rejected the offer.

Tamer would then have raised the bid to 20 million euro plus the loan or the transfer of a Barcelona player who can leave the club but Liverpool doesn't seem willing to consider the offer unless more important players are offered.

Asked about the rumours linking Mascherano with a move to Barcelona, Federico Vitali, another agent of the player, said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that there aren't direct negotiations between the two clubs at this moment: "Barcelona is of course interested in Javier Mascherano but until Barcelona start talking with Liverpool, no progress will be made. It's clear that Mascherano wants to play at Barcelona, every Argentinian player would want that."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Liverpool asks 40 million euro° plus the loan of Barcelona forward Bojan (18). British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Liverpool wants to let the player go for a fee of at least 41,5 million euro°, while Barcelona would be ready to offer 24 million euro° plus Bojan. Sport claims that a loan of Bojan is not an option. British newspaper The Times claims that Mascherano is valued at 36 million euro°.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror on the other hand claims that Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has made it clear that Mascherano will not be allowed to leave at any price and that the coach will now call a summet with the player's agent to insist that the Argentinian midfielder must honour the three years left on his contract.

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser meanwhile claims that Real Madrid made an 30 to 35 million euro° bid for Mascherano. Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims, based upon sources from the entourage of the player, that Madrid didn't yet make a formal offer. The Times claims that Madrid is prepared to pay 45 million euro° for Mascherano and Liverpool right back Arbeloa and that Benítez is close to conceding defeat in his attempts to keep he Argentinian.

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Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona

Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims that Barcelona officials met representatives of Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) yesterday.

The meeting took place in the Rey Juan Carlos I hotel in Barcelona and lasted from 5 to 7 pm. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of football Raül Sanllehi, the player's agents Walter Tamer and Federico Vitali as well as an intermediary took part.

Mascherano is willing to join Barcelona and a deal between the player and the club will not be an obstacle. Barcelona could now use the wish of the Argetinian to put pressure on Liverpool, who nevertheless doesn't seem to have plans to let him go.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Liverpool could be asking 30 million euro° for Mascherano, while Barcelona would only be ready to pay 20 million euro°. *British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Barcelona will have to make a bid of 53 million euro° or include Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) in the deal.*

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Agent Mascherano in Barcelona for transfer talks

Football site Goal claims that Walter Tamer, the agent of Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25), has travelled to Barcelona earlier today.

Tamer would meet with Barcelona officials at the club's Camp Nou offices this afternoon to hold talks on a transfer of the Argentinian.

Mascherano's wish to move to Barcelona could have helped to convince Liverpool to give the player's representatives the authorization to start talking with Barcelona (read more here). No fee has reportedly been agreed upon although the site claims that a swap deal including Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) might be an option.

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Mascherano open to offer from Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (24) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Walter Tamer has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that the player would be happy to move:

"If a club like Barcelona wants to bring you into their ranks, after they have won everything and completed such a brilliant season, the player will of course say yes and will want to play there. It would be an honour for Javier that a club like Barcelona is watching him, and even more when they just had an incredible season. I think playing with Barcelona would be very easy for him. Sometimes we joke and say the only thing he should have to do is run around, steal the ball and give it to one of the stars in front of him.

I believe that a transfer would be possible. I have already spoken with Txiki Begiristain before, but we have not been in contact for a while now. If something comes up, we will talk with Liverpool to know what their position is about Javier leaving, and with Barcelona to find out how interested they exactly are. What if Xabi Alonso also leaves? Benitez sure would not want to see two midfielders go. It would be difficult, although Xabi's future does not depend on Mascherano and vice-versa. Two transfers is possible, but it will be easier for the one who's the first to leave."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has agreed to let Mascherano or Xabi Alonso go. Because of financial problems, Liverpool will have to sell first before they can sign new players this summer. An offer of 30 million euro° is thought to be enough to sign the Argentinian.

Mascherano would already have confirmed to Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola that he would like to join Barcelona. With Touré and Keita having to play the Africa cup in the beginning of next year, Guardiola would see Mascherano as the ideal addition the squad.

Valencia regional sports paper Superdeporte claims that Barcelona has been following Mascherano for several years and that the scouting reports are positive. Barcelona would already have been close to signing the player in 2007 when the investment company that owned the transfer rights of the player couldn't find an agreement with Liverpool on the transfer fee.

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