Juventus reveal Macherano deal is off

Juventus have admitted defeat in their efforts to lure Javier Mascherano from Barcelona this summer.

The Serie A champions have been keen on the 31-year-old, and last month it was even reported they had agreed a deal in principle with the Argentinian.

However, it looks like Mascherano will see out the remaining two years on his contract at the Camp Nou, with the Catalan giants reluctant to let him leave.

"Barcelona will not sell, this is now a closed case," Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta is quoted as saying by Marca.

"With Miralem Pjanic and Dani Alves we have started building the team for next season."

It perhaps won't come as a shock to many, after Mascherano's claims earlier this month that he would not leave the Spanish Champions against their will.