Rafael Benitez has once again insisted that Javier Mascherano is not for sale and wants him to extend his stay at Liverpool.
The Argentina international was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer before Xabi Alonso completed his transfer to Real Madrid, ending any hopes Mascherano had of leaving Anfield.
Reports have been circulating Merseyside that the 25-year-old is unhappy with not being allowed to leave the club, resulting in him being confined to the bench for a few games this season.
However, Benitez has insisted the midfielder is happy at Liverpool and he is determined to keep Mascherano at the club for the foreseeable future.
"I have told the managing director that he is very important to us and we want to keep him, and we will look at his contract when the time is right," said Benitez.
"He is a key player for us and he will be a key player for us during the season.
"I think he is working very hard and in one or two games he was playing well but the team was not doing really well in the other two. It's more the team than just one player.
"He has to play at the level he was before, but he has enough time to do that, and we know he is a key player for us, and will be for a long time."
The Argentina international was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer before Xabi Alonso completed his transfer to Real Madrid, ending any hopes Mascherano had of leaving Anfield.
Reports have been circulating Merseyside that the 25-year-old is unhappy with not being allowed to leave the club, resulting in him being confined to the bench for a few games this season.
However, Benitez has insisted the midfielder is happy at Liverpool and he is determined to keep Mascherano at the club for the foreseeable future.
"I have told the managing director that he is very important to us and we want to keep him, and we will look at his contract when the time is right," said Benitez.
"He is a key player for us and he will be a key player for us during the season.
"I think he is working very hard and in one or two games he was playing well but the team was not doing really well in the other two. It's more the team than just one player.
"He has to play at the level he was before, but he has enough time to do that, and we know he is a key player for us, and will be for a long time."
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