'I was upset at how I had to act to leave Liverpool - but there was no other option'

Former star Javier Mascherano previously confessed his regret over the manner in which he engineered his exit from the club.

The Argentinian ace, who joined the Reds from in 2007, spent three years at Anfield, becoming a beloved figure among fans who even dedicated a song to him due to his passionate performances on the pitch. The hard-hitting midfielder made 94 appearances for the Reds and was instrumental in the team that gave a run for their money in the 2008/2009 Premier League title race under .

However, Mascherano's bond with the club deteriorated as he angled for a transfer to Barcelona following appointment in 2010. After Liverpool declined an offer from the Spanish titans for the midfielder, Mascherano departed in less than dignified circumstances after a brief spell of refusing to play. Despite his move resulting in five La Liga titles and two Champions League triumphs, the now 40-year-old admits the way he forced his departure from left him "upset".

Mascherano candidly reflected on the tumultuous period at Liverpool in March 2021 in an interview with , and he said: "Liverpool fans weren't happy with me at all and I completely understood why."

The club's notorious boardroom struggles during the late 00s, marked by from widely criticised American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to John W. Henry, had a significant impact on several key players, reports . Echoing his team-mate Fernando Torres, who departed Liverpool in early 2011, Mascherano revealed that he felt the club's direction did not match his ambitions, while personal reasons also compelled the ex-West Ham man to seek an exit from the UK.

He added: "On the other hand, the board at the time had promised me something and weren't keeping their word." The situation escalated when, following Rafa Benitez's departure and Roy Hodgson's appointment, Mascherano was left disillusioned.

He said: "We'd spoken about extending my contract, but it seemed like the directors didn't care about me. In the pre-season after Rafa left, Roy Hodgson arrived.

"We had a meeting with the managing director, Christian Purslow, who told me I could go if a good offer came in. Then there was an offer on the table, but Liverpool were looking the other way."

Feeling cornered and let down by Liverpool, Mascherano resorted to drastic measures, initiating a one-man strike. Despite later expressing regret for this action, he stands by his sentiment that the club did not honour their agreement regarding his transfer, adding: "I was quite angry that they weren't keeping their word. Refusing to play at City was the way I found to show my annoyance.

"I'd told the club I wanted to leave for family reasons, so I was very upset to have to act the way I did. There was no other option otherwise, Liverpool wouldn't keep their promise."

Though Mascherano didn't clinch any trophies during his spell with Liverpool, he was a key player in the side that narrowly missed out on the Premier League title and participated in the Champions League quarter-finals that season with the Reds. He also featured in a Europa League semi-final for Liverpool the following campaign.

Despite the controversial nature of his exit, Mascherano speaks fondly of his period playing under Benitez. He said: "I'll be forever grateful for the way (Rafa Benitez) helped me without him, my career wouldn't have been the same.

"When I went to Liverpool, I was still a young player with little experience, but Rafa's concepts and philosophy shaped me into a far better player. I evolved a lot under him defensively, and my reading of the game improved a great deal too."

Even during his triumphant tenure at Barcelona, Mascherano's affection for Liverpool endured. After lifting the 2011 Champions League trophy by defeating Manchester United, he acknowledged Reds fans: "I want to say, I know that Liverpool supporters, after my exit, I know they were a little bit sad with me-this is for them as well."