“I refused to play to facilitate my move from Liverpool – I regret how I departed”

Javier Mascherano became a fan favorite during his time at Liverpool, but he departed the club under unfavorable circumstances after taking extreme measures to secure a transfer to Barcelona.

Former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano expressed regret over his actions taken to leave the club.

The Argentinian joined the Reds from West Ham in 2007 and spent three years at Anfield, where he became a fan favorite, with supporters even creating a song for him due to his dedicated performances.

Mascherano made 94 appearances for Liverpool and was crucial in the team’s close fight for the Premier League title in 2008/2009 under Rafa Benitez. However, his relationship with the club deteriorated as he sought a transfer to Barcelona after Roy Hodgson’s arrival in 2010.

When Liverpool rejected a bid from Barcelona for his transfer, Mascherano left the club under difficult circumstances, having briefly refused to play. Although his move led to him winning five LaLiga titles and two Champions League trophies, the now 40-year-old stated that the way he left Liverpool “upset” him.

Mascherano discussed the situation in March 2021, sharing with *FourFourTwo*: “Liverpool fans weren’t happy with me at all and I completely understood why.”

The club’s difficulties during the mid-2000s, marked by the transition from the unpopular American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to John W. Henry, were well-known and affected several star players.

Like his teammate Fernando Torres, who left Liverpool in early 2011, Mascherano felt that the club’s direction no longer matched his own desires, compounded by personal reasons for wanting to leave the UK. He remarked: “On the other hand, the board at the time had promised me something and weren’t keeping their word.

“We’d spoken about extending my contract, but it seemed like the directors didn’t care about me. In the pre-season after Rafa left, Roy Hodgson arrived.

“We had a meeting with the managing director, Christian Purslow, who told me I could go if a good offer came in. Then there was an offer on the table, but Liverpool were looking the other way.”

With few options left, the former River Plate player chose to go on a one-man strike. While he expressed regret about this decision, he insists that the club did not fulfill their promises regarding his transfer.

“I was quite angry that they weren’t keeping their word. Refusing to play at City was the way I found to show my annoyance.

“I’d told the club I wanted to leave for family reasons, so I was very upset to have to act the way I did. There was no other option – otherwise, Liverpool wouldn’t keep their promise.”

Although Mascherano did not win any trophies during his time at Liverpool, he played a crucial role in the team that nearly clinched the Premier League title and reached the Champions League quarter-finals in the same season. He also participated in a Europa League semi-final the following season, and despite the way his tenure ended, he holds his experience under Benitez in high regard.

“I’ll be forever grateful for the way (Rafa Benitez) helped me – without him, my career wouldn’t have been the same. When I went to Liverpool, I was still a young player with little experience, but Rafa’s concepts and philosophy shaped me into a far better player. I evolved a lot under him defensively, and my reading of the game improved a great deal too.”

Mascherano’s affection for Liverpool persisted even during his successful stint at Barcelona. After winning the 2011 Champions League Final against Manchester United, he dedicated the victory to the Reds’ fans, stating: “I want to say, I know that Liverpool supporters, after my exit, I know they were a little bit sad with me—this is for them as well.”