Report: Javier Mascherano rejects €50 million to play in China

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano rejected an offer worth €50 million to play in China.

Despite a recent dip in form from Barcelona, the Blaugrana have been one of the most successful soccer teams on the planet over the past decade. They followed up last year’s treble by lifting the FIFA Club World Cup in December and currently sit atop the La Liga table.

While the majority of talk around Barcelona is about the club’s front trident of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, Javier Mascherano has been a staple in the side ever since he arrived from Liverpool. He has been a big reason for their success under Luis Enrique and has proven his loyalty to the Catalans on numerous occasions.

On Friday, it was reported by Mundo Deportivo that the Argentine international turned down a massive offer from an unnamed Chinese club to ply his trade overseas in Asia. According to the Spanish outlet, the midfielder rejected the opportunity to make €50 million. Mascherano currently has a contract with Barcelona that runs up until 2018, and it doesn’t look like he has any plans of leaving any earlier.

Along with winning two Club World Cups and two UEFA Champions League titles with the Spanish giants, Mascherano has also helped the club win three La Liga championships, two Copa del Reys, two Spanish Super Cups and two UEFA Super Cups.

The 31-year-old is expected to be in the starting lineup on Saturday, when Barcelona take on Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarin. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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