Mascherano to Barcelona: What is Javier's Agent Playing At?

It has been widely reported that Javier Mascherano's agent has had a two-hour long meeting in Spain with representatives of La Liga Champions, Barcelona.

Javier's agent, Walter Tamer, claimed in a recent Spanish radio interview the deal is a strong possibility and would apparently be welcomed by the Argentinian midfielder.

"I believe a transfer can be done. I've spoken to (Barcelona technical director) Txiki Beguiristain about this."

"It is an honour for Javier that a club like Barca pay such close attention to him, especially after the incredible season they had. I believe that a transfer would be feasible. If Barca really want him, he will sign for them."

This comes against quotes by Rafa Benitez that the he has spoken to Mascherano personally, as recently as last week, and the Liverpool player has once again stated he is very happy staying with the club.

"We do not want to sell, and Javier is very happy here. I have spoken to Javier two or three times this summer, the last time was only last week, and he was very happy, very positive."

Last month, Mascherano himself publicly stated his desire to stay at Liverpool: "My future is here. I am here and I will continue to give 100 percent and it will always be like this."

The media machine has put their typical spin on the subject, with subtle placements of key words like "unsettled Mascherano" and misleading headlines claiming that "Mascherano wants to leave for Barcelona" or "Mascherano has talks with Barca."

None of which are true of course, as it all seems to stem from wayward comments made by Javier's agent and not from the actions of the Liverpool midfielder or anything he has actually said.

Walter Tamer has been hinting and suggesting things that are already pretty obvious—most players would welcome a move to Barca—and things that just appear to be massively incorrect—"If Barca really want him, he will sign for them."

However, according to Tamer in his recent phone call with Benitez, Barca already do want to sign Mascherano, and it's also well known they have been chasing his signature since 2007.

Despite this interest, Mascherano has still made it clear on more than one occasion he wants to stay with Liverpool.

So why would Tamer go to all of this trouble to make out that Mascherano would be happy to leave for Spain? Why is Tamer meeting with Barca representatives if his very own client has stated his future is with Liverpool?

For awhile now it has been whispered that Mascherano's pregnant wife would prefer to move to a Spanish-speaking country and raise their family there. But whether this would affect where Mascherano chooses to play his football remains to be seen.

His wife may be well be unsettled in Liverpool, but the player is clearly not unsettled playing for the club.

There is a possibility that Mascherano is secretly orchestrating a move away from Liverpool by using his agent as a mouthpiece, whilst appearing loyal to his current club by publicly stating he wants to remain at Anfield.

With Liverpool under some financial restrictions in the transfer market, there is the thought that Walter Tamer is using this uncertainty to manipulate a move to Barcelona; either for his own financial gain, or on behalf of his client.

There is also the belief that Mascherano is using this as a way of bumping up his wage-packet to mirror other first team members like Gerrard, Torres, and Kuyt.

They have all recently signed lucrative long-term contracts with the club, and people feel Mascherano would like to be up their with the other top earners, so is using the Barca talk as a smoke screen to increase his payments.

There is of course no foundation in these theories and are simply speculative efforts on behalf of the rumour mills.

Whatever the reason, it's clear the actions of Walter Tamer are causing problems for Rafa Benitez, as he fends off advances for both Mascherano and Xabi Alonso from Spanish clubs.

Benitez even spoke to Tamer on the phone to ask about the apparent interest from other clubs, to reiterate his stance on selling Mascherano, and also the opinion of his very own client.

"Walter told me that two clubs with big, big names were asking after Mascherano, and I told him to forget it, that Javier was happy in Liverpool and he was not for sale. So I was surprised to see the agent's comments.

"He has a long contract and any club can forget about bidding for him. They can offer £40m or even £50m, we don't want to sell."

Walter Tamer's recent interview for Catalan radio, RAC-1, has done nothing but increase speculation surrounding Mascherano.

Not only has it added even more pressure on the Liverpool managers already burden-heavy shoulders, but it has also cast a shadow on the integrity of Mascherano from some quarters.

He gives the impression that he and Mascherano have discussed the move in detail already by stating: "He would have a very easy job at Barca. Sometimes we talk and joke that the only thing he has to do is run, rob the ball, and pass it on to all the superstars in front of him."

Walter Tamer is either acting on behalf of his client and trying to agitate a move away from Anfield, or he is acting on his own accord and causing unnecessary problems for Benitez, Liverpool, and Javier Mascherano.

Either way, Liverpool supporters will be once again thankful when this transfer window is firmly shut tight.