FC Barcelona manager sees Javier Mascherano as future coach

Barcelona's Argentinian defender Javier Mascherano attends a farewell ceremony organised by the football club in Barcelona on January 24, 2018. Mascherano was unveiled as the latest big name to move to China, signing for Hebei China Fortune from Barcelona. Pic/AFP

FC Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has said he expects departing midfielder Javier Mascherano to embark on a coaching career once he hangs up his cleats. The manager's comment followed confirmation from the Catalan club that the 33-year-old Argentine was leaving for Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, reports Efe. "You can see how he thinks, he understands the game. He is almost like a coach himself during the game," Valverde said of Mascherano.

"He is a player who is close to the end of the career. He has got that (coaching) bug and he is surely going to try it, because if you do not try it you will always be wondering." Mascherano, who joined Barça from Liverpool in 2010, is due to move to Hebei on Friday.

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