Football
Javier Mascherano set to leave Barca for China
By Boluwatife Ezekiel Olaleye
Javier Mascherano is leaving Barcelona to seek a Fortune in the Chinese Super League.
The former Liverpool midfielder, who turned into a defender at the Nou Camp, will quit the Catalan giants for a switch to the lucrative CSL with club Hebei Fortune.
The former Anfield enforcer has had a successful spell at the Nou Camp, where he has won the Champions League twice and La Liga four times.
According to Fernando Czyz on Twitter: “Javier Mascherano is a new player of China’s Hebei Fortune.
“There was an agreement with Barcelona and his buyer and the Argentinian… leaves behind one of the best clubs in the world.”
Barca are reportedly in the market for a replacement and are looking at Palmeiras midfielder Yerry Mina for about £10.5m.
Former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho has also come into the Nou Camp and impressed Ernesto Valverde.
In other areas of the pitch, Barca are said to be in the market for Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann and Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
Now coaching Manchester City to new heights, it was initially Pep Guardiola who dropped Mascherano into defence after Carles Puyol picked up an injury during the 2010/11 season.
That allowed Guardiola to play Mascherano alongside Gerard Pique and Barca went on to win another Champions League.
Javier Mascherano could still appear for Argentina in this summer’s World Cup, even if he does move to China in January
Mascherano, now 33, first arrived in England after the 2006 World Cup, when he and Carlos Tevez were signed by West Ham.
But the deal quickly proved controversial as it was proven the pair were owned by a third party – something that is banned in English football.
The incident became infamous with Sheffield United fans, after the Blades were relegated following Tevez’s winner against Manchester United on the last day of the 2006-07 season.
He then moved to Liverpool under Rafa Benitez, where the Reds almost won the Premier League title in 2009, before later switching to Barcelona.
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