Javier Mascherano completes agreement on new Barça contract

Javier Mascherano has completed his renewal for Barça, pending the signing of the contracts and the official announcement.

The footballer, as revealed by SPORT on Sunday, had already given the green light on the general conditions of the agreement, and his agent has spent two days in Barcelona tying up the loose ends.

Barça will improve his wages and will probably extend his deal until 2019, thereby equalling the proposal that the Argentine had received from Juventus.

Mascherano is also in the Catalan capital to personally review the matter and give the definitive blessing.

The renewal of the player was a priority from the moment that Juventus pursued him.

The Argentine international had made his mind up to leave for Italy, but Luis Enrique's high esteem for him forced the club to react.

Technical secretary Robert Fernandez travelled to the Copa America to calm the defender, and promise that the club would deal with the matter of his renewal.

During Andre Gomes' presentation, FC Barcelona's head of professional sports Albert Soler stated:

"Javier Mascherano and Barça have reached an agreement for him to continue at the club.

"We celebrate that this improved contract allows Javier to stay for three more years and this was one of the pending issues we had to resolve."