LIONEL MESSI has urged Argentinian international team-mate Javier Mascherano to join him at Barcelona.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has slapped a £50million price tag on the player to try and deter interest in ther influential midfielder.

But Barca have refused to back off and now the gifted Argentine has cranked up the pyschological pressure on Mascherano.

“Of course I would like him to join,” Messi said.

“Who would not want to play with great players like Javier? I hope he can come here.”

There has been speculation suggesting Mascherano wants to become one of Liverpool’s highest earners and that his wife has not settled on Merseyside.

But the player himself has told Benitez he is comfortable at Anfield and the Liverpool manager will actively resist any attempts to prise Mascherano away.

Benitez is resigned, however, to losing full-back Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid.

After admitting earlier this week that he “would have to consider” any good offer for Arbeloa, Real Madrid made a five million Euros bid – £4.2m at current exchange rates.