Barcelona extend contract of Javier Mascherano

FC Barcelona announced Tuesday that the Spanish football giants have reached an agreement Tuesday to extend the contract of Argentinean midfielder, Javier Mascherano until the summer of 2018.

The move ensures the continuity of the Argentinean, who can play in central midfield, but has spent his recent seasons with Barcelona in defence, reports Xinhua.

It also means the club has ensured the future of an important player both on and off the ground for the next year and a half when they will not be able to make any new signings in the wake of FIFA ratifying their decision to ban the club from making signings until the start of 2016, as a result of irregularities in signing youth team players.

"I am very happy to continue at this great club and to share the dressing room with great players," said Mascherano on the Barca website.

"We all hope things go well this season and we all have new hopes after living a different season last year. My aim is to be at the club until the last day of my contract and I hope I can live up to the level demanded by the club," added the player, who will miss Barca's second game of the season after being sent off just before half-time in Sunday's 3-0 win over Elche.