A prospective new contract and even the captain’s armband may not be enough to keep Javier Mascherano at Barcelona.
The 29-year-old has been linked with a move out of the Camp Nou this summer, with Napoli and former club Liverpool seen as competing for his signature.
However, reports have been that his agent would first be talking with the Catalans to ascertain their intentions, and that they are planning to respond with the offer a new contract.
A prospective new contract and even the captain’s armband may not be enough to keep Javier Mascherano at Barcelona.
The 29-year-old has been linked with a move out of the Camp Nou this summer, with Napoli and former club Liverpool seen as competing for his signature.
However, reports have been that his agent would first be talking with the Catalans to ascertain their intentions, and that they are planning to respond with the offer a new contract.
The Corriere dello Sport follow this up today with the indication that this prospective new deal could stretch as far as June 2018 and also include new Coach Luis Enrique handing the Argentine the captain’s armband.
However, the Rome publication report that this may not be enough to convince Mascherano to not consider the interest from Napoli and others, as he is equally keen for first-team assurances and a potential move back into central midfield.
Mascherano has predominantly based his game from centre-back since signing for Barca in the summer of 2010.
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis explained yesterday that any move from the Vesuviani for the former West Ham man would have to represent financial value.