THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona won the race to sign Javier Mascherano from Liverpool, announcing Friday that the Argentina midfielder had agreed to a four-year contract.
Reports had said Liverpool demanded a fee of around 25 million pounds (C$41.1 8 million). Spanish reports put the price tag at 22 million euros (C$29.7 million).
Mascherano has to pass a medical before the deal is finalized.
The 26-year-old Mascherano, who was also thought to be a transfer target for Inter Milan and former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, is a natural replacement for the departed Yaya Toure as the defensive midfielder in the Spanish champion’s lineup.
Liverpool had already rejected Barcelona’s previous offer, which was described by manager Roy Hodgson as being "very far apart" from Liverpool’s valuation of the Argentina captain. He was subsequently left out of Liverpool’s lineup for a Premier League match against Manchester City and Thursday’s Europa League match with Trabzonspor.
Although Hodgson preferred not to sell the player, he acknowledged that Mascherano had become intent on leaving.
"Mascherano is one of the best midfielders in the world and he has decided to go, and I’m sure Roy would not want one of his best players to leave without anyone coming in," Liverpool club secretary Ian Sylvester said. "There’s still a few days until the transfer window closes."
Mascherano helped Corinthians to a Brazilian championship before his breakout performance at the 2006 World Cup led to a move to West Ham, where he was largely confined to the bench.
The former River Plate player moved to Anfield in 2007 and scored two goals in 139 total appearances for the Reds.
Mascherano has made 62 appearances for Argentina — scoring twice — since his debut in 2003, and was the youngest captain to lead Argentina to a World Cup tournament since Diego Maradona in 1986.