Javier Mascherano joined up with the Liverpool squad in Switzerland yesterday – with Rafael Benitez determined to hold on to the midfielder.
Mascherano’s arrival at Liverpool’s pre-season training camp was delayed after he became a father for the second time last weekend.
The midfielder has been courted by European champions Barcelona throughout the summer, with Lionel Messi urging his fellow Argentine to make the move to the Nou Camp.
But Benitez has made it clear Mascherano will be expected to honour the remaining two years of his contract, particularly as Xabi Alonso seems likely to leave for Real Madrid in the near future.
Alonso, along with the remainder of Liverpool’s Spanish contingent and left-back Andrea Dossena, is due to join up with the squad on Sunday after the friendly with Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital before flying to the Far East for next week’s two friendlies against Thailand and Singapore.
Meanwhile, Lucas reckons Liverpool’s next title challenge starts with the work the squad are doing during pre-season in Switzerland.
“This training camp is the most important week in terms of fitness,” said the Brazilian midfielder. “If we can get the fitness as soon as possible we will see the benefits at the end of the season.
“We have been training a lot, double sessions every day, but we are going about things in the right way.”
Benitez yesterday took time out from the training camp in Switzerland to make a flying visit to the Sandor Karoly Football Academy of MTK Hungaria, with whom Liverpool have formed a special relationship.
The Anfield outfit have recently taken five MTK youngsters on trial, and Benitez was hugely impressed by an academy that has already helped groom Liverpool quartet Krisztian Nemeth, Peter Gulacsi, Andras Simon and Zsolt Poloskei.
“My colleagues reported that the people here are doing a first class job and I have wanted to see this academy for a long time,” said Benitez. “It's a well organised system with an excellent training staff – just as I expected.”
Mascherano’s arrival at Liverpool’s pre-season training camp was delayed after he became a father for the second time last weekend.
The midfielder has been courted by European champions Barcelona throughout the summer, with Lionel Messi urging his fellow Argentine to make the move to the Nou Camp.
But Benitez has made it clear Mascherano will be expected to honour the remaining two years of his contract, particularly as Xabi Alonso seems likely to leave for Real Madrid in the near future.
Alonso, along with the remainder of Liverpool’s Spanish contingent and left-back Andrea Dossena, is due to join up with the squad on Sunday after the friendly with Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital before flying to the Far East for next week’s two friendlies against Thailand and Singapore.
Meanwhile, Lucas reckons Liverpool’s next title challenge starts with the work the squad are doing during pre-season in Switzerland.
“This training camp is the most important week in terms of fitness,” said the Brazilian midfielder. “If we can get the fitness as soon as possible we will see the benefits at the end of the season.
“We have been training a lot, double sessions every day, but we are going about things in the right way.”
Benitez yesterday took time out from the training camp in Switzerland to make a flying visit to the Sandor Karoly Football Academy of MTK Hungaria, with whom Liverpool have formed a special relationship.
The Anfield outfit have recently taken five MTK youngsters on trial, and Benitez was hugely impressed by an academy that has already helped groom Liverpool quartet Krisztian Nemeth, Peter Gulacsi, Andras Simon and Zsolt Poloskei.
“My colleagues reported that the people here are doing a first class job and I have wanted to see this academy for a long time,” said Benitez. “It's a well organised system with an excellent training staff – just as I expected.”
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