Benitez Hopes Mascherano will withdraw from the Olympic Games

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano is expected to be called up to Argentina’s Olympic squad as one of the three allotted overage players. A 24, he is a scratch over the 23-year-old limit, but is tipped to join Juan Roman Riquelme in Beijing this August.

Manager Rafa Benitez has different plans.

“This is a very difficult situation for us because we have Lucas who is eligible through his age with Brazil and Mascherano who can play for Argentina as an over-age player, so I need to discuss his position with him,” the Spaniard told the offish site.

“We will see what happens. We have some time so we need to wait and we will try to find a solution with Mascherano that will be the best for the club and the best for the player.

He is resigned to losing midfielders Lucas Leiva and Sebastian Leto for the early part of the upcoming season, but is holding out hope the Mascherano could be available for his club team.

“With Lucas and Sebastian Leto we will accept the situation,” he said.

“It is a difficult situation because if the countries want the best players to take part they have to go to the professional clubs. But from our point of view, we have to manage the situation as well as we can.”