Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray believes Javier Mascherano behaved poorly in his efforts to secure a move away from Liverpool, but suggests the Argentine’s refusal to play in the Premier League for Roy Hodgson’s side is merely a worrying example of increasing player power.
The Argentine successfully engineered his move to Barcelona having refused to play against Manchester City a fortnight ago, but Gray suggests Liverpool deserved much better from a player they had effectively plucked from obscurity.
Gray is concerned Mascherano’s ill-advised and disrespectful actions towards one of the biggest clubs in the world merely highlights the power players now have in the modern game, and he admits “it doesn't sit well” with him.
Gray told skysports.com: “Javier Mascherano's exit from Liverpool is an example of player power taken to the extreme and it doesn't sit well with me.
“Back in 2008 the Argentinean signed a four-year deal at Anfield yet barely two years on he's on the brink of moving to Barcelona.
“It's no secret that he has wanted to go for some time and I find that sad but not surprising in a sport where the vast majority of players have little or no affinity to the club they join.
“It feels as though there are an increasing number of players who, despite having more than a year still to run on their contracts, are happy to say 'right, I'm off now'.
“When they're told they are not leaving the club they decide to down tools and refuse to play. I seriously object to that.
“I don't see why a club shouldn't be within its rights to withdraw a player's wages if that player withdraws his labour.
“Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much difference that would make to footballers who these days are multi-millionaires. I'm sure there are more than a few out there who would sacrifice their dough for a few weeks to get their own way.”
Gray continued: “What grates me most is that Liverpool have been good to Javier Mascherano.
“The 26-year-old had no real home when they first came knocking in 2007; he was just sitting on the substitutes bench for the majority of the time at West Ham.
“Liverpool took him in and gave him a home and a career path that helped him become captain of Argentina. They've been really good to him and I think it's really shabby the way he's treated them in return.
“Alex McLeish said earlier this week that players have more power now than when he was a player; that's only a bad thing when it's used in the way Javier Mascherano has used it.
“Liverpool are one of the most famous clubs in the world and yet find themselves saying 'Thanks very much Javier - so all that money and adulation we've given you, you are just going to throw back in our faces, are you?’
“I can understand Roy Hodgson's frustration.”