JAVIER MASCHERANO has revealed the day he knew that his Barcelona career was over and he had to leave.
The Argentine arrived at the Nou Camp in 2010 following a three-year spell at Liverpool.
Javier Mascherano spent eight years at Barcelona having joined from Liverpool.Getty – Contributor
GettyMascherano won La Liga four times and the Champions League twice during his time at the club.[/caption]
The midfielder made 203 appearances for the Catalan giants scoring once and won La Liga and the Champions League during his time at the club.
Despite having a successful spell at Barcelona Mascherano knew when it was time to move on.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Sport the 38-year-old recalled the moment he had to leave the club.
He said: ” I saw Umtiti train the first day, I called my representative and I told him: “Walter, my story at Barça ended, here is someone who is from another level.”
He added: “I have made thousands of errors in my career but if I had something, it is that I have always been a teammate. In the last days of Luis Enrique I had lost my edge.”
The former Liverpool man arrived knowing it would be tough to displace Sergio Busquets and had to re invent himself as a centre half to earn his place in the side.
Mascherano admitted when he signed that he wasn’t a player for Pep Guardiola’s style.
He said: “I was not a player for Pep’s style. That was the reality and I knew it.”
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL
The midfielder eventually left Barcelona in 2018 to join Chinese side Hebei China Fortune where he spent a season.
The Argentine returned to his homeland signing for Estudiantes where he made ten appearances before retiring.
Mascherano made a total of 436 appearances in his career scoring two goals.