New Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has revealed that he will be leaving Liverpool with a huge debt of gratitude to former boss Rafael Benitez, but none to the Premier League club.

The Argentina international insisted it was the Spaniard who rescued his career and taught him all that he knew about football, despite Liverpool being the club who gave him his chance and paid his wages, while it was also at Anfield where the South American truly established his reputation after having been left to rot in West Ham reserves previously.

Yet Mascherano has made it clear that his progress was only down to Benitez after the Inter Milan boss guided him in tactics and formation which he will find useful for his future career.

“Rafa taught me tactics,” Mascherano said.

“He’s one of the coaches who have taught me the most in my career and I’m very grateful to him.

“He was fundamental. He gave me the chance to join Liverpool.

“He had confidence in me at a time when, perhaps, nobody would have dreamed of giving me an opportunity. I’ll be grateful to him all my life.”

Mascherano left Liverpool in an acrimonious departure and joined Barcelona in what he called his “dream move”. The defensive midfielder forced his way out of Anfield after refusing to play for the Merseysiders against Manchester City, claiming that his head was not in the right frame of mind to take to the pitch.

The South American has also now accused the Anfield giants of spreading “lies” about him and his family, despite having gone publicly to insist his family was unsettled in England, and that he left after suffering broken promised by his former employers.

Tags: Barcelona, English Premier League, Javier Mascherano, La Liga, Liverpool, Rafael Benitez, West Ham United