Barcelona have sanctioned the €10m sale of defender Javier Mascherano to Hebei China Fortune with a deal imminent, according to reports in Spain.
The 33-year-old was reportedly adamant he wanted to leave the Blaugrana in January, with the Chinese club set to receive €7m annually in wages, a €1m increase on his current deal.
A Diario Sport report now indicates a deal has been struck between the clubs following the arrival of Yerry Mina at the Camp Nou.
Mascherano has been out-of-favour at the club most of the season, falling behind Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique in the pecking order at the Blaugrana, but his current deal runs until June 2019.
Hebei China Fortune are managed by former Real Madrid Coach Manuel Pellegrini while they currently have former Sevilla midfielder Stephane Mbia and Gervinho – formerly of Arsenal and Roma – alongside Ezequiel Lavezzi, formerly of PSG.
Thomas Vermaelen is currently playing due to injuries to the Argentine and Umtiti, while the club are thought to be trying to sign Colombian defender Yerry Mina in January.
