Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has
admitted he is flattered to be linked with the likes of Barcelona
and Real Madrid.
The Argentine international has been tipped to join the
Camp Nou outfit this summer while his representative, Walter Tamer,
is understood to have jetted to Catalunya to hold talks last
week.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez is desperate to retain the midfielder
who has become an integral player in his plans after signing a
five-year contract back in 2007.
Mascherano has now dropped his biggest hint yet that he wants to
swap the Premier League for La Liga after confirming he is
flattered by the duo's reported interest.
"I am very proud and thankful for the interest from Barcelona
and Real Madrid. It's good for me to have these two teams
interested in me," he told Don Balon.
"Both teams are very important but at this moment I think that
Barcelona is a little bit better and that's why they've won all
that they have."
Meanwhile, Mascherano has expressed his happiness at being a
regular in Diego Maradona's Argentina squad: "I'm very proud that
Maradona has me in mind.
"The best player in the world ever says many good things about
me and that makes me very proud."
teamtalk