By Football Talk.
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has cast doubt on his Anfield future after confessing his family are finding it tough living in Liverpool. The Argentinean international was close to a move to Barcelona last summer but Rafa Benitez blocked the transfer, to the disappointment of Mascherano and something that affected his early season form, but his latest comments are sure to alert the Catalan giants once more.
“The situation with Barcelona really affected me.“It was a shame it didn’t happen as it was the city I wanted to live in.
“There were many discussions and problems during that month and a half. They were difficult times for me. One day I was off to Barcelona, the next I wasn’t.
“And Liverpool said I was non-transferable.
“Psychologically, it affected me as I couldn’t think in Liverpool and I was focused on other stuff and not on my work, my training and playing.
Mascherano goes on to describe how he and his family struggle to fill their spare time in Liverpool, and regular trips to London are not enough as his wife and children are forced to stay at home due to cultural barriers.
“I don’t do much stuff in my free time, that’s the truth.
“I could go to London with my wife to do some shopping but I have already been to London 1,000 times and if I want to go to another city I would have to take a plane.
“What kills me about living in Liverpool is that there are only two Argentinians here with me, Emiliano Insua and Maxi Rodriguez.
“Insua and I live in a private neighbourhood. He lives in one tower and I live in the other. There are 15 metres between us and we used to look at each other through the window.
“Sometimes Zabaleta comes from Manchester but there is no way Carlos Tevez comes here. If I want to see him, I have to go to his place and knock on his door.
“He doesn’t like to leave his home. So during the winter, during those four or five months, I have to stay at home all day with my family.
“I have no problem living in Liverpool, but I think my wife and daughters deserve to enjoy every day to the full and live their lives – but they have to be at home all day.
“My wife doesn’t speak a word of English, so she depends 100% on me. I live here with them. That’s my world, that’s my life.”
Although Mascherano says he himself is happy in Liverpool, there is no doubt he is concerned for about the well-being of his family and life in Merseyside is far from ideal for them. More uncertainty surrounding a star player is the last thing Liverpool FC or Liverpool fans need at this time with daily rumours about Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres filling the back pages as well as the future of manager Rafa Benitez still to be decided.
