Friday, 23rd May, 2014
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis admits that the club are working to complete the signing of Javier Mascherano from Barcelona.
Mascherano, who joined Barcelona in 2010 from Liverpool, is keen to move on after growing frustrated at being played out of position.
A reunion with his former manager at Liverpool, Rafael Benitez, is on the agenda, and Napoli are working to snap up the Argentine defensive midfielder.
De Laurentiis explained to Gazzetta dello Sport: "Benitez knows him and respects him and we're working on it, although negotiations are difficult."
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The Napoli supremo also hinted that Barcelona must adopt a realistic approach to selling Mascherano.
"In two years the player will be 32 years old."
Mascherano has won two La Liga titles, one Champions League, one Copa del Rey, one UEFA Super Cup, two Spanish Super Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup at Barcelona.
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