Barcelona transfer news: Messi's role in Mascherano transfer, Valverde wants Napoli star, and more - 4th December 2017
Javier Mascherano reveals Messi's role in his transfer to Barcelona
The Argentine joined the La Liga giants from Liverpool in 2010 and thrived as a centre-back instead of his preferred defensive midfield role. Mascherano revealed the key role Lionel Messi played in his transfer to Argentine outlet El Grafico:
“During the 2010 World Cup I heard that Yaya Toure was leaving and that they were looking for a midfielder, so I told Leo that I would love to play at Barca. Leo spoke with Guardiola and Pep's response was, 'He's coming here, he's not going to play. How do I have the captain of the Argentine National Team in the bank? You're going to get mad, Gaby Milito will get angry and we'll all end up fighting.' That's what Pep told Leo."
“I told Leo to explain to Pep that I was not like that, that I was not going to make him look bad, that it was not about making problems with the coaches. A time passed and one of those circumstances that changed your life forever, in August, Barcelona lost the first final of the Supercopa with Sevilla, without the Spanish world champions, and it turned out to be the Pep's last touch of conviction to take me, so answering your question, Leo influenced a lot to go to Barca.”
While this highlights the relation between Mascherano and Messi, it also points out the rumoured influence Messi has on Barcelona's transfers. Meanwhile, Mascherano looks to be on his way out at the end of the season with a potential return to Liverpool a possibility.
Luis Suarez rules out Neymar moving to Real Madrid in the future
The Paris Saint-Germain attacker moved for a world-record fee of €222 million in the summer from the Blaugrana. It was met with bitter reactions from the Barcelona faithful but the effects have reduced with time and Neymar visited the Spanish club twice since his move.
Recently, rumours of a potential move to Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid started doing the rounds and Spanish outlet, Marca, put forth the question to Luis Suarez, one part of Neymar's famed trio of MSN (Messi, Suarez and Neymar) at Barcelona. The Uruguayan replied:
"Not at all. Honestly, I do not see it. I know how Neymar is and the admiration he had for Barcelona and his team-mates. I do not see him now going to play for Real Madrid."
The former Liverpool striker opened up further on Neymar's decision to leave Barcelona and said:
“Surely he made it with a lot of pain because he was happy here. But, we all have to accept that he was thinking of other challenges and that he wanted to take them on. It was an understandable decision that he took with his family. There is no reproach, but admiration and love for everything that he gave the club and the relationship we had throughout those years."
Barcelona fans might feel the same about Neymar down the line and it is not entirely impossible that the superstar comes back one day to play for the club again.
Kalidou Koulibaly on Valverde's wishlist
One of the biggest weaknesses in the current Barcelona setup is the ageing defence. Barring Samuel Umtiti, the remaining three central defenders - Gerard Pique, Thomas Vermaelen and Mascherano are all on the wrong side of 30. Thus, a top quality centre-back is high on the wishlist of Ernesto Valverde.
However, finding defenders of such quality is rare and the Blaugrana now have Napoli's Koulibaly on their radar. The 26-year old joined the Italian side in 2014 and is now one of the pivotal figures behind the club's stunning performances domestically as well as in Europe.
Il Mattino now reports the Spanish club's concrete interest by stating how the club's scouts are regularly spotted at Stadio San Paolo. However, Barcelona will have to deal with competition from Chelsea, who have been interested in the player for quite some time now and Napoli's owner, Aurelio de Laurentiis, who is a tough negotiator.
Nevertheless, Koulibaly has all the attributes to succeed at Camp Nou and Barcelona will look to push for him in the upcoming transfer windows.