Mascherano completes switch to Barca

Javier Mascherano has ended his woes with Liverpool and has finally put pen to paper with Spanish giants Barcelona.

The 26-year-old holding midfielder signed a four-year contract after undergoing a five-hour “exhaustive” medical at the Hospital de Barcelona and at the Nou Camp earlier on Monday.

Barcelona are believed to have paid £18million for the Argentine international and it is understood that he will wear the number 14 shirt which has been left vacant since the departure of Thierry Henry.

Mascherano will have to fight hard for his place on the team, with World Cup-winning Spaniards Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets already at the heart of Pep Guardiola's impressive line-up.

"It would be stupid to think I would come here and be playing every game," the new signing said upon being presented to the press at the Nou Camp.

"You have to respect the people who are already doing well and who have won everything. In the positions I play in there are three world champions. It will be an honour to be able to learn from them and to grow with them."