JAVIER MASCHERANO has moved back to Argentina and signed for Estudiantes after 14 years of playing abroad.
The 35-year-old has had a stellar career which includes two Champions League victories, five La Liga titles, five Copa Del Rey crowns, and two Uefa Super Cups.
Javier Mascherano, who was playing in China, has returned to Argentina after 14 years awayCredit: Getty – Contributor
Mascherano posted a picture of him alongside former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who is now chairman and director of football at the club.
After leaving River Plate for Corinthians in 2005, Mascherano made his first move to Europe through the unlikeliest of routes.
Infamously, the holding midfielder joined West Ham alongside fellow countryman Carlos Tevez in what at the time had to go down as two of the most bizarre Premier League transfers of all time.
He would make just seven appearances for The Hammers before joining Liverpool where he would play 139 times over five years.
But it was his seven-year stint at Barcelona which he will be remembered for, most notably for being a part of the 2010-11 and 2014-15 sides, both of whom won trebles.
Mascherano was a major part of the Argentina side which lost in the 2014 World Cup Final to GermanyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Leaving the Catalan giants in 2018, the Argentine spent two seasons with Chinese Super League team Hebei China Fortune, where he played 51 times, scoring one goal.
And now he returns to the side who Juan Sebastian Veron also ended his career with, Estudiantes.
In what has been an esteemed, decorated career, it seems fitting that Mascherano will move on to the final stage of his 16-year career in front of a home crowd in South America.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
