EXCLUSIVE: Agreement between Mascherano and Juventus

EXCLUSIVE: Agreement between Mascherano and Juventus

Barcelona do not want to sell the Argentine international, but he has been looking elsewhere

Javier Mascherano's future could be in Turin. The Argentine has an agreement in principle with Juventus to join the Italian club this summer. 

Mascherano would sign a three year deal with Juve and would see a considerable rise to the salary he currently earns at FC Barcelona. 

The 31-year-old, who this season has been like a captain, has spent time assessing the possibility of leaving Barça for an improved contract, which could be the last big one of his sporting career. For now, the agreement is only between Mascherano and Juventus. The clubs still have to negotiate. 

Sources at FC Barcelona have assured SPORT that they have no intention of selling Javier Mascherano at the moment, a player who is considered a key part of Luis Enrique's project. 

Mascherano joined the club from Liverpool in 2010. He didn't take long to demonstrate why he's been known as 'El Jefecito' - the Little Boss - thoughout his career. 

He joined the club as a defensive midfielder, but Pep Guardiola soon converted him to a central defender, a position which he has occupied across his six years at Camp Nou. 

Away from his excellent contribution defensively, Mascherano would abandon the club as the only players in the squad who has not scored a goal for Barcelona. 

'Masche' has played 281 official games in the Barça shirt divided in the following way: 

La Liga: 170

Champions League: 58 

Copa del Rey: 39

Spanish Super Cup: 8

Club World Cup: 4

European Super Cup: 2