Mascherano reveals that Barca tried to sign him in 2009 but Liverpool rejected.
The next summer, the Argentine was in talks with Inter over a possible move but the clubs couldn’t agree on a deal.
Then, Blaugrana returned for him with 10 days before the end of the transfer market secured his signing in the final days.
“It was pretty weird, like most things in my career. In 2009 Barcelona talked to my agent about signing me. He had a few meetings with them, but Liverpool wasn’t at all interested in selling me because they had already sold Xabi Alonso,” Javier Mascherano has told Team Barca.
“And Rafa Benitez didn’t want to lose both of us in one summer, so those meetings didn’t go anywhere. After that, I had no more expectations of that move happening because it’s difficult to think that a big team like that would come around for you a second time if you’re not a superstar.
“They go and find someone else to cover that position. So in the summer of 2010, unfortunately, we hadn’t qualified for the Champions League, I go to the World Cup and Rafa gets fired. He was the one that had brought me there and trusted me and basically revived me from a sporting point of view.
“And Rafael Benitez signs for Inter and calls me to tell me that he wants me to join him. I had been in England for 4 years now and started feeling that I should make a change, to try to play for a team that could win trophies, which was difficult at Liverpool at that time.
“So during the World Cup I kept talking to Inter and then I got back for preseason with Liverpool.
“I had already spoken to them about wanting to leave if the offer was good enough for the club too. So basically the whole transfer window was winding down and I had just talked to Inter. There were 15 days left and the clubs hadn’t reached a deal.
“And with 10 days left Barca show up. I think their interest in me grows especially after the first game of the Spanish Supercup that the team had lost to Sevilla, I think 3-1. After that game, the negotiations went very fast and I end up signing in the final days of the market.
“But you can say it was unexpected because during that whole summer I had only talked to Inter. But I thank God that it happened like this and that Inter didn’t sign me, because otherwise, I would have lost everything I lived in Barcelona.”
Mascherano played for Barca between 2010 and 2018, managing 334 appearances, one goal and eight assists. He helped the Catalans win 19 trophies, including two Champions League titles. The Argentine has announced his retirement from professional football.
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