Liverpool are set to raise Javier Mascherano's pay, after they refused to give him the all-clear to join Barcelona this summer. Mascherano, whose weekly wage is around £80,000, was a primary target for the European champions, but Rafael Benitez has always been determined to hold onto the Argentina midfielder. Liverpool manager Benitez conceded that Barcelona's overtures appealed to the 25-year-old, saying the Reds' refusal to let him go have probably resulted in his disappointment. "I had to talk to Javier a little bit. Barcelona is a top side, so if a club like Barcelona, who won three trophies in the last year, are interested it's not easy for any player," the Spanish tactician told Sunday Express. "But we knew from day one that we didn't want to sell him. He's an important player for us. "He has come home now, after playing for his national team, and we will talk. "It's important that he sits down now and we have time to talk."
