30.08.2010 20:04

Mascherano dons new colours

Vanessa Forns

Javier Mascherano has donned the famous FC Barcelona home shirt for the first time as he walked out on the Camp Nou pitch to pose for photographers after signing a four-year contract with the club.

On Monday evening the Argentinian midfielder made his transfer from Liverpool to Barça official when he completed a five-hour medical and then put pen-to-paper on a deal that will keep him at the club until 2014. Following in the footsteps of every new signing, Mascherano then dressed in the home kit and took his first steps on the hallowed turf inside the stadium.

Open doors

After early indications that it would be a closed shop, the club then decided to open the doors to the public and around 2,000 fans entered Camp Nou to see the Blaugrana’s latest acquisition wear the colours and do the usual tricks with a ball as photographers snapped away.

Done deal

Following an agreement with Liverpool on Friday it was not until 19:35 in Monday that Mascherano knew that he a Barça player at last as he strode down the tunnel and took the steps up to the pitch dressed in the new Nike kit and received the cheers from the stands.

Standing ovation

The fans were delighted to see the former River Plate, Corinthians and West Ham United star strut his stuff as he showed particular skill with his head when keeping the ball up. Once the photographers had done their thing, Mascherano was able to return to the dressing room, but not before soaking up the applause of the supporters one more time.