Barcelona call time on Mascherano chase

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has given the strongest hint yet that he will not be persuing the signing of Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano this summer after being out priced by the Reds.

The La Liga and European Champions have been linked with a move for the Argentine international captain, but it is believed Rafa Benitez has demanded a fee of at least £50million.

With the new league season just a fortnight away, Guardiola revealed, ‘œThe market is complicated,’ he said. ‘œAll the signings are very expensive and one of the options is that there won’t be any more reinforcements. We are rich but not as much as others.

‘œEveryone, for whatever player, is asking for a great deal of money.’