Javier Mascherano,whats the story on him?

[Dero]

Javier Mascherano,whats the story on him?

Isn't he some football playing guy or something

[Maestro]

Exactly, everyone has heard something different, be it from the echo, the daily mail, skynews, the guardian etc - it all depends on who you want to believe. I'm just suspicious why there is no actual confirmation from anywhere official which can be relied upon. Why might that be?

I can understand where you're coming from, but I'm not sure if the deal was as secretive as you suggest. If you recall, this was a long drawn-out saga that went on for an age as special dispensation was required from FIFA to allow JM to play for us. Nearly every report focussed on this angle, so that the loan stipulation was of secondary importance.

For me there is no cloak and dagger stuff regarding the fact that he is on an 18month loan - as far as I know, it is not usual to announce at the start of an 18 month loan deal, what the purchase price of the player at the end of the loan deal would be. Nor is it usual to pay money for a loan deal. This is why this information was not included in most reports, IMO.

Granted, there was speculation in various media outlets that we paid a fee, but that don't make it so.

[bazza76]

Granted, there was speculation in various media outlets that we paid a fee, but that don't make it so.

I think there was a rumor of us actually paying a fee upfront, the fee covered the loan period on the move, then we have to shell out as far as I can remember £10m or as other reports say £18m.
It sounds a highly irregular way of doing things, but there has been nothing regular about Mascherano since he came to England, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if we did pay a nominal fee upfront when we secured the loan.
It's all just speculation at the moment though, I think very few players apart from the agents involved and Parry, Rafa and a couple of others would know the ins and outs of.

[Dero]

If you recall, this was a long drawn-out saga that went on for an age as special dispensation was required from FIFA to allow JM to play for us.

Was that not about him just playing/being registered for us re: fifas two teams a season regulation? That's what leads me to belive it's just a normal loan with an option to buy at the end.

[dww]

I can understand where you're coming from, but I'm not sure if the deal was as secretive as you suggest. If you recall, this was a long drawn-out saga that went on for an age as special dispensation was required from FIFA to allow JM to play for us. Nearly every report focussed on this angle, so that the loan stipulation was of secondary importance.

For me there is no cloak and dagger stuff regarding the fact that he is on an 18month loan - as far as I know, it is not usual to announce at the start of an 18 month loan deal, what the purchase price of the player at the end of the loan deal would be. Nor is it usual to pay money for a loan deal. This is why this information was not included in most reports, IMO.

Granted, there was speculation in various media outlets that we paid a fee, but that don't make it so.

To be honest I don't see why any team would release information on the amounts paid on transfers unless they were legally obliged as a PLC. Most transfer values reported in the press change wildly over time which indicates to me they mostly make something up and wait until a consensus value emerges.

I think it is relatively common to pay a fee for a loan when you agree a fee for the end of the loan - we did this with Anelka for example and there was talk of a fee to be payed by Marseille for Cisse before he got injured.

[Joe Le Toff]

I sincerely hope we dont **** this one up and end up losing him at the end of the loan period.
He's utter class and Rafas best signing IMO.
The sooner we can make it permanent the better.

[Charlie_B]

He's a fantastic player and one that most, if not all, fans have taken a huge liking to. I'd be gutted if we didn't make the signing permanent.