Rafael Benítez remains coy over Javier Mascherano bid

Inter Milan manager Rafael Benítez remained tight-lipped over the potential signing of want-away Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Benítez was speaking to the media ahead of Friday night’s UEFA Super Cup clash between Inter and Atletico Madrid in Monaco, but the Spaniard refused be drawn on the fresh speculation over his former player’s future.

“Two different things,” said Benítez, who joined Inter after leaving Liverpool this summer. “The first one is that we’re here just to play the (UEFA Super Cup) final, and the second one is that I am the coach.

“We have a director, we have a chairman and I think that they have a very good relationship with Roy Hodgson, so it is a problem for them.

“I am the coach and the coach cannot sign any player.”

Mascherano, 26, has long been linked with a move away from Anfield and Spanish giants Barcelona tabled a £12m offer for the Argentina captain earlier this week.

But Inter have now emerged as the front-runners in the race to secure the midfielder’s signature before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.