Javier Mascherano is refusing to play for Liverpool against Manchester
City on Monday night as he seeks to negotiate a transfer away from the
club.
Mascherano is effectively going on strike and doubts will be raised whether he will ever turn out for the club again.
The player has previously said that he wants out of Anfield this summer, although Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has remained confident of keeping his star midfielder. However, despite Inter Milan dropping their interest in the Argentine, Barcelona are reported to have made a bid for his services.
The Guardian claim that the bid is €15 million (£12.2 million) and includes former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb and Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres as makeweights.
Liverpool are understood to have rejected the offer as they want €30 million (£24.4 million) up front with no player exchanges as part of the deal.
Mascherano was excellent in the opening draw against Arsenal, but missed the Europa League tie through Trabzonspor through injury - thus allowing him to play in European club competitions if he secures a move before the end of the transfer window next week.
"He is not here tonight because there is some speculation about his future and his mind is not right, so it was not correct to select him," Hodgson told Sky Sports ahead of the game.
Hodgson has not given up hope of getting the chance to select Mascherano again, as the club will not shift from their valuation of the player.
"Hopefully it will be resolved before the
end of the transfer window and I will get the chance to select him
again, but it was not right tonight," Hodgson added. "The club has got a
position. We are under pressure from other clubs who want to sign him.
There may come a time when the offer matches our valuation, but until
that day he stays with us."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=816976&sec=england&cc=4716
Ah Roy should try out his new players and used his fringe players more instead of begging mascherano to stay.
Mascherano is a gone case and have a negative effect on the game play.
It is strange that Liverpool is stuck with lots of soft minded people who dare not make any hard decision to improve the club.