Javier Mascherano has told Hodgson he wants to leave Liverpool FC

This was the news we all expected to hear at some point but, like with the Alonso rumours last season, had hoped not to hear.

As disappointing as it is to hear a player who the club rescued from West Ham’s reserves and helped to become Argentina’s captain, say he wants to leave the club, we should refrain from labelling him a ‘Judas’ and burning effigies of him in a replica shirt. Let’s applaud his honesty in at least stating his intentions rather than trying to play cat and mouse with the club or releasing dubious statements about how he respects and admires Inter/Barca but would be equally happy to remain at Anfield. At least we all know where we stand and those at the club can plan a future that does not involve him.

What this statement does to his transfer value remains to be seen. The facts are, Mascher is under contract, is a top player and one that the club have no wish to sell so under normal circumstances he should command a minimum fee of £30m. However, Inter will argue that as the player wants to leave and Liverpool don’t want to be left with a disillusioned and potentially disruptive player, they should accept a lower bid. It’s tricky. While I can see the value of letting this one go down to the wire in order to squeeze every last penny out of the transfer, Liverpool could do without being involved in protracted transfer dealings this summer. Our focus needs to be on the new season and we need to have our 2010-11 squad in place as soon as possible.

Losing Mascher is a blow but not as big a blow as losing either Torres or Reina.

Mascher is a great player. He is the best in the world at playing that destructive midfield role and no like-for-like replacement of equal quality exists. However, plenty of teams enjoyed more success than Liverpool without having a destructive player of Mascherano’s ability last season so we have to look at this as an opportunity to try something different.

Lucas has the potential to replace Mascher as the defensive midfielder in Liverpool’s set up while Gerrard, Cole or a new signing could play alongside him as a more attacking midfielder. As a set up it would be less effective defensively but would hopefully contribute more goals both in terms of goals scored and direct assists.

I also feel less pissed off about Mascher wanting to leave than I would with Torres if he had come out with this statement of intent. I feel Torres owes us. Without doubt, last season (and indeed the season before) would have been more successful had Torres not missed half the campaign through injury. Granted, it is harsh to blame a player for being injury-prone but if Torres’ argument for leaving was that he felt the team around him was not good enough, I would counter argue that it could be with him in it. I have no doubt that had Torres played another 10 matches last season, Liverpool would have finished in the top 4 at least while his absences against Atletico Madrid severely reduced our chances of contesting the Europa League Final. In Mascher’s case, these arguments hold no water. Despite a poor start to the season which many put down to disillusionment over being denied his desired move to Barca, Mascher gave everything he could for our cause last season. Whomever is to blame for Liverpool’s disappointing last season, Mascher is not culpable. So I don’t feel he owes us anything.

I also think Mascherano’s stance is understandable for a couple of reasons:

First, the player is Argentinean. Without wishing to sound racist, it’s clear that there are significant cultural differences between England and Argentina – particularly in football terms. For example, cheating is still frowned upon in England despite diving, playacting and imaginary card waving by English players becoming increasingly common in recent years. In Argentina, over 20 years later, Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ moment is still hailed as an example of cleverly bending the rules to your advantage. Another example is that few of our top players play abroad whereas the majority of Argentina’s national team ply their trade in Europe. This is at the hub of my point. Mascher has no loyalty to the people of Liverpool. Despite his badge-kissing, Liverpool is just one of 20 to 30 top teams in Europe for whom Mascher could be playing.

Second, as Argentina’s captain, he will feel he should be playing for a top, top team like teammates Messi and Milito or at least a team with the potential to become a top, top team like close friend Tevez. Liverpool currently is neither. Within months of Mascher joining us, we were contesting the Champions League Final. However, since then the club has made headlines for all the wrong reasons as civil war broke out between manager and boardroom and funds that should have been invested in Europe’s top players has disappeared from the coffers into the vacuum of the debts placed on the club by dishonest owners. That Liverpool will not contest this season’s Champions League is immaterial. Without a mega-rich benefactor purchasing the club, Liverpool will not contest any of the top prizes domestically or in Europe for the next five years at least. Mascherano will feel he can attract a club capable of more.

From our perspective, Mascher undoubtedly strengthens our first XI but we have to remember that we won nothing with him in our team so it can’t be argued that future success is dependent on retaining him.

Assuming we receive a fair fee for him, he can go with my blessing and I will wish him well at his new club.