Javier Mascherano has admitted his Liverpool career may have ended very differently if the Reds had beaten AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final.
The Argentine arrived at Anfield that year and quickly became one of Rafael Benitez’s most trusted players, forming a fierce midfield unit with Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. He spent three and a half years at Liverpool before completing a £17.25m move to Barcelona in 2010, where he went on to win everything.
But the move to Spain might never have happened if Liverpool had claimed another European Cup in Athens.
Be honest, are you upset it’s Iraola and not Xabi Alonso? 👀
Sounds like Liverpool were always leaning towards the Bournemouth boss…
Javier Mascherano says another UCL win with Liverpool could have prevented Barcelona move
Mascherano was part of the Liverpool side beaten 2-1 by AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final. Filippo Inzaghi scored twice for the Italians, while Dirk Kuyt’s late goal gave Liverpool brief hope before Milan claimed revenge for Istanbul.
That defeat meant Mascherano left Liverpool without a major trophy, something he has clearly not forgotten.
The 41-year-old appeared on Vida de Campeones, where he touched on his time at Anfield.
Asked about the best thing he experienced at Liverpool, he said: “The affection of the people. I wasn’t lucky enough to win a title that I would have loved.
“We lost the Champions League final.”
When it was suggested that winning that game may have changed everything, Mascherano replied: “Yes, maybe, and maybe I wouldn’t have gone to Barcelona and I would have stayed there. You never know. Maybe, but the truth is that the three and a half years in Liverpool were spectacular.”
It is an interesting admission, because Mascherano’s exit in 2010 became messy. He later explained that he wanted to leave for family reasons and felt Liverpool had not kept their word over allowing him to go if a suitable offer arrived.
Once he got to Barcelona, his career reached another level. Mascherano won multiple league titles, two Champions Leagues and became a key figure in one of the greatest club sides ever built.
Still, Liverpool fans never really needed a trophy to understand his quality. He gave everything in midfield, fitted perfectly into Benitez’s best team, and remains one of the great “what if” players of that era.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
