Mascherano snubs Diego

JAVIER MASCHERANO has sensationally snubbed the chance to be Diego Maradona's skipper.

New Argentina gaffer Maradona wanted Liverpool ace Mascherano to be his captain. But he turned him down saying he is too quiet to take the job on.

Mascherano said: "We had a short chat on the phone and he asked me to be the captain. But I told him the truth and I don't feel I can be his skipper because I don't have the personality to do the job I am a bit quiet.

"I can put all my energy and strength on the pitch and maybe can show the way to some of my team-mates, but outside the pitch I am not the same.

"That's not something you get from somewhere, it's something you are born with.

"Diego is a very good person and I hope he doesn't get offended with my decision.

"I just don't feel I'm right for it. A leader is someone everyone listens to and that doesn't happen to me because I don't talk so much in the dressing room."

Maradona may not be ready to take no for an answer. And Mascherano admitted he was hugely flattered to be offered the chance to take the armband and follow in the footsteps of 1978 World Cup winning skipper Daniel Passarella.

Armband

He was due to travel to England this weekend to meet with Mascherano and Manchester United's Carlos Tevez but has postponed the trip until after his official unveiling as head coach on Tuesday.

Mascherano added: "Some people have said to me already he will try to persuade me to take the armband. But I expect to make him happy by what I do on the pitch, but not as his captain, and I'm sure he will understand that.

"Diego has been very generous with me in the past and I am thankful to him.

"Diego has his opinion regarding how a player has to act when he puts on Argentina's shirt. He likes the way I play and I am very happy about that."

Mascherano is convinced Maradona's arrival at the helm of the national team is going to have a massive impact.

He said: "I think Maradona will be a huge appointment for us. He came to the Olympics with us in the Summer and his presence inspired us to win gold.

"I don't have any doubt it's going to make a very positive impact. We all know what Diego gave to football and to Argentina, so it's obvious we will all have an extra motivation as a result."

Mascherano is desperate to play against Scotland in Maradona's first game in charge.

He added: "I don't know if Liverpool will let me go. It would be a shame, but there are rules that have to be respected.

"Argentina play Scotland in two weeks and I want to play so we will see what happens."

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