Torres is staying at Liverpool! But Mascherano wants out!

• Poignant

  27 Jul 10, 23:20

  Fernando Torres is staying at Liverpool, insists Roy Hodgson, but Javier Mascherano confirms he wants Anfield exit

  Javier Mascherano wants to leave Liverpool, the club's manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed.  

  Hodgson has been speaking to the Reds' key figures since taking over from Rafael Benitez at Anfield and while captain Steven Gerrard has indicated he wants to stay, Argentina skipper Mascherano is keen to move on, with reports linking him with a reunion with Benitez at Inter Milan.  

  Hodgson has had more positive news from Spain striker Fernando Torres, who has confirmed his intention to return to the club on Monday and to remain at Anfield.

  

  Relief: Liverpool fans will be delighted with the news star striker Torres is to stay

  'Yes, he wants to leave the club,' confirmed Hodgson when asked about Mascherano. 'He has made that perfectly clear. I think he wanted to leave a year go.

  'He wants to leave now but he is contracted to Liverpool so whether he leaves or not will be our decision.'

  Recent speculation suggested Torres was keen to play Champions League football this season and was considering his options. 

  Hodgson said that was not the message the club had received from the Spain striker. 'As far as I know he is looking forward to coming back here; he is back on Monday,' said the Englishman. 'He is enjoying a holiday - a well-deserved break as he has not had one for three years.  

   

   

   

  

  Disillusioned: Javier Mascherano has told Roy Hodgson he wants to leave

  'He is spending a lot of time with his family, keeping a low profile and as far as I know he is not really speaking to anyone.

  'But he has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season.

  'That is what I know so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous.'

  Sources in Italy have said that Inter Milan - managed by former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez - will formalise their interest in Mascherano and Anfield team-mate Dirk Kuyt once they have finalised a £24million move out of the San Siro for Manchester City-bound Mario Balotelli.

  Benitez agreed not to sign his former players for three months when leaving Liverpool for Inter Milan this summer, but an exception is likely to be made for the unsettled Argentina captain.

  Inter president Massimo Moratti hopes a bid of £25m would be enough to snare Mascherano, who is already too expensive for Barcelona's liking.

  Holding on to Mascherano always looked unlikely after Hodgson failed to make contact with the Argentina captain several times since the World Cup.

  Mascherano had his differences with Benitez in the past but their relationship was far more amicable during the Spaniard's last year at the club and Inter offer him the chance to play Champions League football this season.

  

  Unveiling: Roy Hodgson (second right) showed off new signings (left-right) Milan Jovanovic, Danny Wilson, and Joe Cole at Anfield on Tuesday

  The move suits him from a lifestyle point of view too, with fellow Argentinians Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Diego Milito playing for Inter. That almost caused him to leave last summer before Benitez managed to persuade him to stay.

  City, Chelsea and Spanish giants Barcelona, have been linked with moves for Torres ever since Liverpool ended last season in a disappointing seventh spot in the Barclays Premier League, and relinquished their spot in the Champions League.

  Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini raised the prospect at the weekend of a bid for Torres, who was said to be unhappy with life at Anfield.

  However, the striker now appears to have followed fellow superstar Steven Gerrard in committing his immediate future to the Reds.

• ASKL!

  28 Jul 10, 11:37

  just my opinion.

   

  masch gets a lot of card and does quite a bit of tackles untimely.. resulting in many fouls and red cards.. hence what liverpool need now is a box to box midfielder which can win balls and create opportunities.

   

  on the other hand, great that torres is staying

• takawave

  2 Aug 10, 11:07

  since mascherano want out, just let him out.

• AEW5001

  2 Aug 10, 11:58

  torres is definitely gd news

  machie wants out, let him be for a good price.

• Poignant

  6 Aug 10, 16:27

  i really hope mascherano will do what steven and fernando did, come out and tell the fans he's staying. i wish he's staying..

  but too bad, i think we're losing him soon.