Lionel Messi has demanded that Barcelona should not sell his Argentinian teammate Javier Mascherano in this year's summer transfer window.
Often known for having a say in every activity at Football Club Barcelona, Messi has yet again made use of his authority in trying to convince the club's board of directors to keep 33-year-old Mascherano at the club.
panish Outfit Diario Gol claim that Messi is determined to keep one of his closest friends in his team despite the club wanting to write-off the player from their books.
It is said that Lionel Messi feels that Barcelona made a huge mistake by letting Dani Alves leave the club for Juventus; something which eventually came back to haunt the Catalan giants in last season's Champions League and Messi feels letting Mascherano could also have the same repercussions.
Reports in Spain also claims that Messi wants Mascherano to operate as a rotational figure with Umtiti and Pique leading Barcelona's defense. Additionally the five time Ballon d'or winner is of the opinion that Barcelona should not consider selling any of their players, especially Mascherano until they have a world class replacement ready to join the club.
Mascherano joined Barcelona in August 2010 and has since then has won some major honours which most players in the world would envy. The Argentinian has won two Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, four Spanish Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cup's.
Barcelona have been linked with a variety of players in this summer's transfer window with reports emerging that Paris Saint-Germain's Marco Verratti is their prime target while they have strengthened their forward line by recalling Gerard Deulofeu to the Nou Camp.