Why Javier Mascherano is grateful to Real Madrid boss Benitez
Javier Mascherano is one of the players through whom you can tell how the dressing room is feeling at Barcelona. The fourth captain gave a surprising interview to Gazzetta dello Sport in which he explained his worst moments as a player in Europe and confessed that he doesn't enjoy playing football.
The "Jefecito" said of Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez: "He wanted me for Valencia when I was still at River Plate." In the end he went to West Ham in 2006, where he had few opportunities, until Benitez came calling again while at Liverpool.
"I had met with the Juventus directors, who at that moment were in Serie B. And I asked Rafa: 'But how am I going to play if you have Xavi Alonso, Momo Sissoko and Gerrard'. And he told me 'None of those three have your quality'.
Mascherano also admitted that while playing under Tata Martino at Barcelona he considered joining Rafa at Napoli.
"It's true, we talked about it. Now I have less contact with him because he's in Madrid, but I'll always be grateful for taking me out of a 20 foot hole. He's a great man, a technical scholar and a fine teacher."
Football not fun
"I don't enjoy the games, I suffer football. During the 90 minutes I have to concentrate. I only have fun in training. There are defenders like Pique that go onto the pitch relaxed, for me to defend is an art."
