Javier Mascherano admits his Barcelona career is coming to an end after being limited to a fringe role this season.
Mascherano has made more than 300 appearances for Barca since joining from Liverpool in 2010, yet expects to leave the club in the not-too-distant future.
The 33-year-old’s contract runs until the summer of 2019, but he has made just six La Liga appearances for the league leaders this season.
“I think that my stage here is ending,” he told ESPN.
“It makes sense that after such a long time there’s not much more I can do in this club.
“I’m not saying it with a heavy heart. I’ve had the best years of my career in this club. I’ll never forget it.”
However, Mascherano is keen to leave Barca in the right circumstances after souring his relationship with Liverpool fans when completed his £20million move from Anfield.
He added: “I’m one of those people that thinks that you have to know when is the right time to end a stage.
“I would like to close mine on the right time but it doesn’t really depend on me.
“I am predisposed to close it on time because when I left Liverpool it wasn’t good for me, and I didn’t like it.
“I didn’t like having the feeling that I could go back to Liverpool and there was still something toxic there.
“And I don’t want the same thing to happen to me at Barcelona.”
[“Source-foxsportsasia”]
