Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano ends transfer rumors with a contract extension
Barcelona officials have confirmed that the former Liverpool player is about to ink a long term extension contract with the club that will see the Argentinean play for the Catalans till 2016. This news comes after Javier Mascherano hinted desire to extend his stay at Camp Nou.
Javier Mascherano, who is under contract with Barcelona till 2014, suddenly turned into an object of interest in the transfer market a couple of weeks ago even though Barcelona hadn’t put him up for sale.
In an attempt to clear off these reports Javier Mascherano expressed his desire to play for Barcelona in the long run.
“(The new deal) is on the right track and I hope it will be closed shortly. I am happy, I feel valued and I want to continue for many years,” Javier Mascherano told Mundo Deportivo.
“Signing for Barca was the best decision of my life. I have won people’s confidence and now I want to maintain it.”
The 28-year-old ex-West Ham United player has played the role of a utility player in Barcelona’s squad last season. Javier Mascherano filled in as a defensive midfielder, winger, fullback and centerback when Barcelona were short of players.
The Argentina international has been a quintessential to Barcelona’s tiki taka game play. Javier Mascherano, who has played as a midfielder for most of his career, reckons he will play more often as a defender. Interestingly, Javier Mascherano has grown to like his new role as a defender at Barcelona.
“In this club I feel more comfortable playing as a central defender than a midfielder but I will play where I am asked,” Javier Mascherano said.
In the interview, Javier Mascherano also backed his Barcelona compatriot Lionel Messi to retain his Balon d’Or title. Javier Mascherano told Mundo Deportivo that the Lionel Messi was quite easily the best player in the world and he hoped the football prodigy will win the Balon d’Or title once again.
“As regards the Balon d’Or, it is a personal decision, a question of preferences, but I would vote for Messi followed by Xavi and Andres Iniesta. For me titles count but they are up against a kid that has scored more than 80 goals this season,” Javier Mascherano said.
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