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Page last updated at 17:18 GMT, Monday, 30 August 2010 18:18 UK

Javier Mascherano completes move to Barcelona

Javier Mascherano
Mascherano is now a Barcelona player

Javier Mascherano has completed his £17.25m move from Liverpool to Barcelona after passing a medical with the Spanish giants on Monday.

The 26-year-old Argentina captain underwent a five-hour "exhaustive" review, according to Barcelona's team doctor Ricard Pruna.

"The truth is it's a dream, it's a great joy," Mascherano told Barca TV.

"It is a great club with great players and I will try to adapt as quickly as I possibly can," added the star.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has criticised the player's attitude labelling the switch as "selfish".

With Mascherano going we are losing a lot of player and not bringing any in so it is not good in that respect

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson

"Players have got something they want to do and they just expect the club to bow down and accept it," he said.

"Unfortunately there are going to be periods of time when there will be some unpleasantness because players must also understand that when you sign contracts you sign contracts to play."

The transfer had been drawn out by Liverpool's insistence on recouping the £18m they paid for former River Plate midfielder Mascherano when he arrived from West Ham.

The Anfield outfit had rejected an initial bid of £16m from Barcelona but he subsequently missed the Premier League defeat to Manchester City and the trip to Trabzonspor, where Liverpool secured a place in the group stages of the Europa League with a 3-1 aggregate win.

606: DEBATE
THE-ARDVAARK

Mascherano joined Liverpool from West Ham in 2007, initially on a loan deal that was turned into a four-year contract in 2008.

Barcelona failed in an attempt to lure him to Spain last summer but on his return from the World Cup in July, Mascherano made it clear he wanted to leave Anfield, saying his wife could not settle in England.

Since taking charge of Liverpool in July, Hodgson had been eager to end the uncertainty surrounding Mascherano's future.

Liverpool also received a bid from Inter Milan, now coached by Hodgson's predecessor Rafael Benitez.

But former Fulham boss Hodgson dismissed the offer from the Italian side saying: "We received a fax about Mascherano [from Inter], but it was a joke fax."



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see also
Liverpool complete Konchesky move
31 Aug 10 |  Liverpool
Benitez cannot sign Reds stars - Hodgson
25 Aug 10 |  Liverpool
Liverpool 1-0 West Brom
29 Aug 10 |  Premier League
Liverpool complete Meireles deal
29 Aug 10 |  Liverpool
'Joke' Mascherano offer rejected
26 Aug 10 |  Liverpool
Mascherano demands Liverpool exit
27 Jul 10 |  Liverpool
Mascherano signs Liverpool deal
29 Feb 08 |  Liverpool


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