Joan Laporta has revealed that Barca have not given up on signing Mascherano from Liverpool and hinted that he hopes Messi could persuade the player to move.

Barcelona president explained that despite the Argentinian not having generated further speculative headlines in recent days, the Catalan club's interest in him has not waned.

Toure Yaya has penned a new deal and with so many central players to choose from, the interest in Javier Mascherano was thought to have gone.

But Joan Laporta has ensured that the pressure remains on Liverpool by stating that the former West Ham United misfit is a player of whom he is is a big fan.

"Javier Mascherano is a close friend of Leo Messi. We will see what happens. He's a player I like very much," he told icat FM.

Messi has already stated that he hopes his compatriot could join him at Barca, but with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insisting he is not for sale it could be difficult to prise him away from Anfield.

Joan Laporta has revealed that Barca have not given up on signing Mascherano from Liverpool and hinted that he hopes Messi could persuade the player to move.

Barcelona president explained that despite the Argentinian not having generated further speculative headlines in recent days, the Catalan club's interest in him has not waned.

Toure Yaya has penned a new deal and with so many central players to choose from, the interest in Javier Mascherano was thought to have gone.

But Joan Laporta has ensured that the pressure remains on Liverpool by stating that the former West Ham United misfit is a player of whom he is is a big fan.

"Javier Mascherano is a close friend of Leo Messi. We will see what happens. He's a player I like very much," he told icat FM.

Messi has already stated that he hopes his compatriot could join him at Barca, but with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insisting he is not for sale it could be difficult to prise him away from Anfield.