Messi urges Liverpool to release Mascherano

Mascherano and Messi are Argentina team-mates (GETTY IMAGES)

Lionel Messi has told Liverpool they must allow his Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano to join him at Barcelona.

The Catalans' interest in the midfielder, whose family are unhappy in England, led to him being left out of the Liverpool team to face Manchester City on Monday, and he will miss tonight's Europa League clash at Trabzonspor as well.

And Messi is quoted as saying in the Daily Express: "Javier won't play for the club again, I can assure you of that, and I think the Liverpool coach knows that now.

"Javier's family are unhappy and the pressure of seeing that is making him depressed. Liverpool must act humanely and let him go."