Barca readying offer for Mascherano: press

AFP - 2 July 2009 12:50

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano takes part in a training session at their Melwood training ground in 2008. Barcelona is readying an offer of 20 million euros for Mascherano, according to the Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo.

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) - Barcelona is readying an offer of 20 million euros for Liverpool's Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano, a Spanish newspaper said on Thursday.

Barca's technical director, Txiki Begiristain, has received permission from Liverpool's Spanish manager Rafael Benitez to make an offer for the 25-year-old Argentine captain, the Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo said.

However, this "does not mean that the 'Reds' are ready to accept" it, the paper said.

Benitez also told Begiristain that he is "not thinking of releasing the player," the newspaper said.