Rafa Envisages Red Future For Mascherano

[Jezzman]

Go get him Rafa....!!

 

The article's full of good news at the end as well

 

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=505384

 

Rafa Envisages Red Future For Mascherano

 

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez remains confident that Argentine Javier Mascherano will make his loan-deal permanent at Anfield.

 

The holding midfielder was initially signed on an 18-month loan deal from MSI, the sports investment company headed by Kia Joorabchian, in a similar deal that saw his close friend Carlos Tevez move to Manchester United this summer.

 

But Mascherano’s deal is due to expire at the end of the season and no new contract has been offered to the experienced international yet.

 

In a move that caused a signifcant rift between manager and owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillet put off transfer talks until later this month.

 

The news of Mascherano’s undecided future has alerted many suitors from Manchester City to Juventus, however Benitez believes the South American enforcer will continue his impressive career in a Liverpool shirt.

 

When asked if he was hopeful of signing Mascherano, Benitez said: "Yeah clearly. We are not talking now about this but I have confidence because he wants to stay."

 

Benitez also revealed Jamie Carragher is fit to face Reading this weekend and that Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio are all close to making their returns.

 

There had been doubts over Carragher’s fitness after the defender suffering bruised ribs against Bolton last weekend, but Benitez confirmed his vice-captain has recovered in time to be available for Saturday's game.

 

"Carra is okay and I think he will be fit for the weekend," added Benitez.

 

"Alonso is very close, Agger is much better and they could be fit for the next game.

 

"Fabio is training and Xabi was involved in the warm-up and he is very close."

[Tones]

Happy days!

[Earl Hafler]

Happy days!

 

Hey ..Mascherano

[San Diego Red]

Agger, Alonso, Fabio Aurelio, Carra and Mascheranooo !!

Edited December 6, 2007 by Vorokin'

[charlie clown]

making it more and more likely that we'll be saying bye-bye to Momo in the near future.

[fyds]

and clearly Rafa's on his way too...

[fred milne]

and clearly Rafa's on his way too...

The signing of Mascherano is indeed a litmus test of whether Rafa still has a long-term future at the club.

[McBain]

Signing him up is more important than any other business we do in Jan

[kacangpool]

i remember rafa was confident that we'd get heinze.

[Rimbeux]

i remember rafa was confident that we'd get heinze.

 

 

It's as we were really. It's being read as Rafa leaning on Masch to keep patient with his desire to stay a key in that

[Bailo]

BBC report has the caption

 

"Mascherano has played 15 times for Liverpool since joining in February"

 

under his photo. Surely it's more than that?

[_00_deathscar]

Just 15 times in the League according to Wiki.

[The_Adder]

Just 15 times in the League according to Wiki.

 

I could of swore we had a summer break with no football being played?! Either that or that LSD I took was some strong s***

[RafaShanks]

Liverpool want Muntari

 

17/12/2007

 

Rafa Benitez is threatening to derail Portsmouth's fine start to the season by launching a surprise swoop for midfielder Sulley Muntari.

 

Benitez has kept a close eye on Muntari, 23, and will move for him in the January transfer window if Javier Mascherano's £17million fee is not sanctioned.

 

The Liverpool manager remains on frosty terms with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over the availability of transfer funds and Muntari is seen as a cheaper option to Mascherano.

 

The Ghana international has played a key role in Pompey's rise up the Premier League table since signing for a club-record £7m from Udinese.

 

Muntari said: "I want to end up at one of the biggest clubs - that is every player's dream. Of course I will try my best here and help Portsmouth win many things, and maybe qualify for Europe, but eventually I would like to play for a bigger club."

 

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp would be a reluctant seller but could be tempted by a deal involving cash and Peter Crouch.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20258650/

 

Anyone find this concerning the day after Rafa has his meeting?

[honourablegeorge]

Find it pretty encouraging, given them two goals he scored the other week.

[Hassony]

I would rather we get Guthrie Back from bolton, we will still have gerrard, alonso and Lucas (hopefully Momo will be sold)

 

having said that its from the mirror, I would trust tribal soccer more

[McBain]

Telegraph as well

[CarraLegend]

Anyone find this concerning the day after Rafa has his meeting?

 

Nope, it was first in the sunday papers anyway (so before the meeting) and it's claiming if we dont get £17m for Masch we'll then go after Pompey's £7m record signing. Well if he's any good they're going to probably want double what they paid anyway so it's all b******s.

[Guest sniffer]

The article about Mascher's red future is a fortnight old. Since then, Agger has had another setback, according to the Sky TV reporter at the Man Utd game yesterday....

[Ronnie Whelan]

I thought Masch was our MOTM yesterday. If that performance is what we should expect then we should pay the cash in Jan, assuming all is well with G&H.

[CaptainXabi]

I thought Masch was our MOTM yesterday. If that performance is what we should expect then we should pay the cash in Jan, assuming all is well with G&H.

Agreed. Masch is ace.

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

I think £17m is a lot of money for Mascherano.

[Ronnie Whelan]

I think £17m is a lot of money for Mascherano.

 

 

Again, if he can perform to the level he was at yesterday in, say 50% of games then he is. He could be a key squad member for 10 years. If he decided to go after his initial contract then we would easily recoup that outlay, again assuming he performs to a high level.

[Rimbeux]

I think £17m is a lot of money for Mascherano.

 

 

We need a out an out holding midfielder to compliment and compete with Alonso, Gerrard and Lucas long term, he needs to be currently top class in that role. That is the going rate if you look at Carrick or Hargreaves, Makelel, Mickel, Real's Diarra and Emerson. Perhaps you could find cheaper, look at the likes of Lucho Gonzalez, but here's a player who's already settled, already integrated and adapted and doing a great job. For what I'd speculate to be maybe £3m-£5m more than a Lucho, you're removing the risk of the player failing to adapt to us.

[McBain]

I think £17m is a lot of money for Mascherano.

 

It's the market price

 

Carrick and Hargreaves both went for similar and he urinates over both of them