FC Barcelona didn't succeed in landing Cesc Fabregas, but the Spanish champions have landed a standout consolation prize after agreeing to a fee with Liverpool for Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano.
Barcelona must now finalize a contract with Mascherano, a deal expected to be finalized this weekend.
The deal signals a tumultuous summer for Mascherano, who had been linked to a move to Inter Milan and basically demanded that he be sold.
Mascherano joins David Villa as marquee signings by Barcelona, which is rumored to be considering the sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Here are some other stories to get your Friday going:
CITY DRAWS JUVENTUS IN EUROPA LEAGUE
Engand will be facing Italy in the Europa League group stages after Manchester City drew a group including Juventus and Liverpool landed in a group featuring Napoli.
U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore and Villarreal landed in a Europa League group including Club Brugge and Greek club PAOK FC, while Sacha Kljestan's Anderlecht will take on Russian power Zenit St. Petersburg.
Here is a rundown of all the Europa League groups:
Group A
Juventus, Manchester City, Red Bull Salzburg, Lech Posnan
Group B
Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Rosenborg, Aris Thessaloniki
Group C
Sporting Lisbon, Lille, Levski Sofia, Gent
Group D
Villarreal, Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, PAOK FC
Group E
AZ Alkmaar, Dynamo Kiev, BATE Borisov, FC Sheriff
Group F
CSKA Moscow, Palermo, Sparta Prague, Lausanne
Group G
Zenit St Petersburg, Anderlecht, AEK Athens, Hajduk Split
Group H
Stuttgart, Getafe, Odense, Young Boys
Group I
PSV Eindhoven, Sampdoria, FC Metalist Kharkiv, Debreceni
Group J
Sevilla, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Karpaty Lviv
Group K
Liverpool, Steaua Bucharest, Napoli, Utrecht
Group L
Porto, Besiktas, CSKA Sofia, Rapid Vienna
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ADEBAYOR WANTS OUT OF CITY
With newly-signed striker Mario Balotelli in town, and Argentine star Carlos Tevez the top striker for Manchester City, Emmanuel Adebayor wants out and has asked to leave the big-spending club.
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What do you think of Mascherano's move? Does it make Barcelona the favorites in Spain ahead of a revamped Real Madrid? Like the Europa draws for Manchester City and Liverpool? Where do you think Adebayor will wind up?
Share your thoughts below.
That’d actually be brilliant from a Liverpool perspective. Because they could buy MB and another player with the money they get from Mascherano.
Toure left because he was benched behind Busquets. Mascherano might not be a starter.
Mascherano leaving Liverpool for Barca is a win/win for both clubs. Barca needed another ball winner in midfiled after losing Toure and Marquez. I am not convinced, despite his ability, he would have been a favorite of Hodgson’s anyway. Liverpool now have some money to plug some holes like left-back and striker.
i would love nothing more
“3rd place team goes to Europa, 4th doesn’t get anything” – that applies to group stage of Champions League. Teams knocked out of last prelimiary round of Champions League qualifying go to Europa League group stage.
Think the 3rd place team goes to Europa, 4th doesn’t get anything
Here here! I’ve been touting this position for weeks. A decent player, but not a true game changer. At least not in my opinion.
I dont think they are selling zlatan for 30 mill and getting Eto´o back. I believe they are losing money on Zlatan.
althought, i can’t disagree w/ you much, you can’t really say liverpool rescued him. he was young and very highly regarded already. it was only a matter of time until a big club would of come in for him.
Also, no player or club owe each other anything. it’a all bussiness. if a player is good they sign him long term, if not they cut him. regardless everyone eventually moves on.
exactly!
If you get knocked out of the preliminary stages of the Champions league you go to Europa?
I thought Anderlecht got knocked out of the Champions League. This makes it sound like they’re in the Europa league, which makes no sense…
I am as pissed at Mascherano as any Liverpool supporter, but he is perfect for Barca and is a massive upgrade on Busquets who has slotted in at the defensive midfielder role with the departure of Toure. When Mascherano is on (re-watch the Arsenal-LFC game from two weeks ago for a perfect example) he can single-handedly check the oppositions attack.
Conversely, I think Mascherano is a selfish tool who owed Liverpool at least the courtesy of playing against Manchester City after they rescued him from West Ham in the 2007 January transfer window, allowing him to resurrect his career. His petulant actions the last week probably cost the club 4-5 million pounds off of his transfer fee. Good riddance.
given that madrid seem to want a 3rd, true striker…i could see them making a move. but im not sure…
i thin he’s better than the guy they sold, Toure. I also thin he’s one of the top 5 defensive midfielders. Plus, sounds lie they’re selling ibraimovich so they’ll get mascherano and still make a nice profit off of Zlatan
i wouldn’t mind that at all, i thin he’d play well in Hodgson’s system
Mascherano, you will not be starting at Barca man. Seriously? How about Bradley focuses on BMG and makes a move in a year for Everton or AV? Let him achieve something with BMG. do it for the fans
because they’re no better than Fulham and he’s beloved at the cottage. Also, he’s made it known he’s not a fan of living abroad, and he can at least speak english in England, rather than having to learn italian
Adebayor = Bad Pineapple!!! As a Gunner fan, I was all too glad to get rid of Adebayor. He ALWAYS disappeared in the big games.
As for Javier, does anyone else think he’s overrated….not saying he’s a bad player just that he’s not in the vicinity of what Barcelona is paying for him.
OUT with Mascherano… IN with Michael Bradley. Come on Grandpa Hodgson, sign up Baldy!
O/T but do the goals in qualifying count for goal scorers? Like Crouch had a hat trick but do they count for the CL or are they wiped out or what? I’m pretty sure he’d want it to count.
Goooo Liverpool. It’d be so awesome if Dempsey had signed with Napoli. Why didn’t he?
Tough group for Red Bulls (Salzburg variety)!
At this point, I wonder which is better, Red Bull Salzburg or Red Bull NY?