Foregt it Barca: Benitez insists Mascherano is not for sale as he awaits further talks

10 June 2009 20:14
Rafa Benitez is set for further talks with Javier Mascherano over his future after insisting the Argentine was not for sale. Benitez has been irritated by his agent Walter Tamer's talk of interest from Barcelona and is wary of interest from moneybags Manchester City. Sportsmail revealed last week that Mascherano, 25, has grown unsettled but Benitez said: 'Mascherano has no price. Barcelona could not afford to match his value. They can offer £40m or even £50m. We don't want to sell. 'I have spoken to Javier two or three times - the last time was only last week - and he was very happy, very positive. 'He gave me the private number of his agent, Walter Tamer, and again the conversation was very positive. 'Walter told me that two clubs with big, big names were asking after Mascherano and I told him to forget it, that Javier was happy in Liverpool and he was not for sale. 'So I was surprised to see the agent's comments.'

Source: Daily_Mail