11-16-2020, 10:53 AM
'I do not feel the spark again' - Ex-Barcelona, Liverpool and Argentina star, Javier Mascherano announces retirement
Former Barcelona and Argentina defender, Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement from football after a glittering 17-year career across South America and Europe.
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The 36 year old defensive midfielder returned to his homeland in January to join Estudiantes until the end of the season but has now called time on his career.
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Mascherano started his professional career with Argentine giants River Plate in 2003 and spent a year in Brazil with Corinthians before making the move to the Premier League.
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Mascherano had a brief spell at West Ham and then three years at Liverpool before he joined Barcelona, where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career.
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He won five La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns at Camp Nou, then joined Chinese club, Hebei China Fortune.
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He then came back to Argentina in January 2020.
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Speaking at a press conference, Mascherano said: "It is time to finish my career because of things that happened to me in recent months, that on a personal level and after having thought about it for all this time, the most correct thing is to finish today.
"I have lived my profession 100 per cent, I gave the best I could and today I find that it has been difficult for me for a while and I do not want to disrespect Estudiantes, who trusted me to return to Argentina, or my colleagues, or this profession.
"It does not have to do with the club or with a result, but with feelings that one is feeling over recent times, which make the illusion that one had of being a footballer fade.
"Post pandemic, I thought that I was going to feel the spark again, but the truth is that I could not. Out of respect for everyone, it is time to step aside and end this race. I didn't want to let time go by.
"I am infinitely grateful to the clubs I played for, the team-mates I had throughout my career and to Estudiantes who gave me the opportunity to come and play in recent times. It was less than I expected, things happened this way and sometimes you don't choose the end.
"I thank [coach Leandro] Desabato, the institution and my colleagues for having put up with me this last time."
Former Barcelona and Argentina defender, Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement from football after a glittering 17-year career across South America and Europe.
Â
The 36 year old defensive midfielder returned to his homeland in January to join Estudiantes until the end of the season but has now called time on his career.
Â
Mascherano started his professional career with Argentine giants River Plate in 2003 and spent a year in Brazil with Corinthians before making the move to the Premier League.
Â
Mascherano had a brief spell at West Ham and then three years at Liverpool before he joined Barcelona, where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career.
Â
He won five La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns at Camp Nou, then joined Chinese club, Hebei China Fortune.
Â
He then came back to Argentina in January 2020.
Â
Speaking at a press conference, Mascherano said: "It is time to finish my career because of things that happened to me in recent months, that on a personal level and after having thought about it for all this time, the most correct thing is to finish today.
"I have lived my profession 100 per cent, I gave the best I could and today I find that it has been difficult for me for a while and I do not want to disrespect Estudiantes, who trusted me to return to Argentina, or my colleagues, or this profession.
"It does not have to do with the club or with a result, but with feelings that one is feeling over recent times, which make the illusion that one had of being a footballer fade.
"Post pandemic, I thought that I was going to feel the spark again, but the truth is that I could not. Out of respect for everyone, it is time to step aside and end this race. I didn't want to let time go by.
"I am infinitely grateful to the clubs I played for, the team-mates I had throughout my career and to Estudiantes who gave me the opportunity to come and play in recent times. It was less than I expected, things happened this way and sometimes you don't choose the end.
"I thank [coach Leandro] Desabato, the institution and my colleagues for having put up with me this last time."