Javier Mascherano has recalled his early experience of Barcelona, when he was signed as a squad player, only to win a place in the starting XI.
AS quotes the Argentina international from an interview with Radio Metro in which he discussed his Camp Nou career, and also what he’ll do when he retires.
“I’d like to be a Coach. Today as a player you see things easier, but it gets more difficult when you’re on the other side,” he said.
“I want to pass on everything I’ve been taught. Football is a wheel.”
Mascherano got into the Barca team as a centre-back, away from his usual central midfield role – the one he still occupies for the national team.
The former Liverpool player however insists it isn’t a problem for him to move between the different roles when swapping club for country.
“I have never refused to change position. If the Coach is confident in me, that, above all, I argue, is good,” Mascherano added.
“I had nothing to lose when Pep Guardiola put me in defence. At the time there were a lot of injuries and tried with Sergio Busquets and then saw my condition and my physicality, and tried with me. You can see that he liked it.
“I came to Barca knowing I was an alternate and that it would be very difficult. Obviously I would fight but in playing in my position was one of the best in the world, while I was national team captain and fighting on two fronts. Within time I earned my place.”
