14 - Javier Mascherano

[ThwiX]

Who else? Messi 1st, Dani 2nd?

Nope, they don't count Messi for whatever reason.

 

[Barcaman]

Odd.

 

[Aryagorn]

Probably coz Leo is home-grown?

 

[DonAK]

It's because they only count players signed at professional level.

Messi came through La Masia.

 

[Flavia]

Who else? Messi 1st, Dani 2nd?

Following the Copa del Rey match this week against RCD Espanyol, Javier Mascherano has moved into the Top 5 foreign imports with the most appearances for FC Barcelona, where he is now tied on 257 matches with Patrick Kluivert. And the Argentinian is also just six games short of catching up with third placed Ronald Koeman (264).

The list only includes non-Spaniards that were signed as fully fledged professionals, so the likes of Leo Messi, who despite being foreign-born was a product of the club’s own academy, are not included.

Second place in the list belongs to yet another Dutchman, Phillip Cocu, who played 292 games for Barça, while the leader, and by some margin, is Dani Alves, who since joining the club in 2008 has 370 appearances (and still counting, of course).

Alves has won an incredible 21 major titles in his time at the club, where he has made the right-back position his own. Mascherano, meanwhile, who has excelled both as a defensive midfielder and centre-back, has been involved in 13 trophy conquests since he arrived at the Camp Nou in 2010.

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football...mports-with-most-appearances-for-fc-barcelona

 

[evilhita666]

257 games later and he still hasn't learnt how to play as a proper CB... Sell!

 

[Barcaman]

Man of the match for me at San Mames.

 

[AnnieSureshot]

There was no way past him today.

 

[Darko]

Wouldn't have won this game without him, simple as that, covered Adriano's poor positioning more than a few times today.

 

[El Flaco]

Mascherano was great tonight, just a shame he & Alves were responsable for Athletic's goal though...

 

[God Serena]

He was solid today, but when Adriano came on I actually felt sorry for him. Having to play CB and LB at the same time can be tough.

 

[frog-fcb]

Has accepted a 1 year jail sentence but trying to get it changed to a fine

 

[impeh]

Barcelona and Argentina defender Javier Mascherano has appeared in court aiming to avoid going to prison over a 1.5m euros (£1.1m) tax fraud.

Mascherano, 31, previously admitted two counts of fraud after failing to declare earnings in 2011 and 2012.

A judge will now rule if Mascherano can pay an increased fine to avoid jail, according to reports in Spain.

He is alleged to have attempted to conceal earnings from his image rights by using companies he owns abroad.

A court filing released last year confirmed the player had repaid 1.75m euros - the full amount plus interest.

 

[Flavia]

Less than 2 years, and being a 1st offender means no jail time. He'll get a fine and that's it. Same thing happened recently with many players, like Casillas and Xabi Alonso. He published a letter via the official site, in castellano:

[tw]690169877328433152[/tw]

This guy https://twitter.com/Pegameqmegusta translated it on his twitter TL.

 

[AnnieSureshot]

His wikipedia entry is going a bit haywire
[tw]690178265944817664[/tw]