Javier Mascherano looks set for Barcelona goodbye | OneFootball

Despite playing 90 minutes in two recent matches, Javier Mascherano looks set to bring his time at Barcelona to a close this month.

The Argentine said publicly that he wants to play somewhere where he can be an important player and that is simply no longer the case at Barcelona.

Sport report that Mascherano already had an informal goodbye meal with his team-mates at a restaurant in Barcelona.

And they also claim he will say his official goodbye to the fans at an event this week.

The plan, according to Sport, is for the event to take place before the Copa del Rey game against Espanyol on Thursday.

Interestingly, they also suggest that Mascherano does not like such public displays but understands that it’s the appropriate thing to do after spending seven-and-a-half years at the club.

If the reports are accurate, the midfielder-cum-defender has this played his last game for the Catalans.

He will join Hebei Fortune before the end of the month.

However, this may not be a permanent goodbye. The possibility exists that Mascherano may one day return to Barcelona in a coaching capacity.