Javier Mascherano has been rumoured to be on the way out of FC Barcelona for quite a while now.
The Argentinian defender does not seem to have space in the squad anymore, and the arrival of Yerry Mina would likely reduce his minutes even more, so a switch is inevitably coming. And judging by the words of Hebei China Fortune’s coach Manuel Pellegrini, the Argentina international is set to leave Camp Nou sooner than later.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester City confirmed he expects to sign Mascherano this month, with the Barcelona defender anticipated to complete his move to the Chinese side within two weeks. ‘Masche’ has been linked with a switch to Chine since December, but the acquisition of Mina and Thomas Vermaelen’s good run of form should speed things up.
“The idea is that he comes here,” Pellegrini told Marca from Hebei China Fortune’s training base in the south of Spain.
“We have to see what the situation is with Barca, but he’s a player that I am really interested in.”
Reports in the Catalan press suggest that Barca and Hebei Fortune have already agreed on a fee of around €10 million for the 33-year-old Mascherano, who has won over 140 caps for Argentina and has been a mainstay for Barcelona since 2010.
