Masch flattered by duo

Reds ace pleased to be linked with Barca and Real

By Patricio Figueroa   Last updated: 23rd June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Masch flattered by duo

Mascherano: Flattered

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Liverpool's tenacious 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.

Manager Rafa Benitez is desperate to retain the midfielder who has become an integral part of 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.

Flattered

"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."