Mascherano to captain Argentina

JAVIER MASCHERANO is set to become captain of Argentina under newly-appointed coach Maradona after insisting reports he had turned down the post were down to a misunderstanding.

Maradona was officially named as Argentina’s new manager on Tuesday night and there was immediate confusion when he announced Mascherano would be his skipper, despite stories that the Liverpool midfielder had already refused the honour.

The mystery deepened when the legendary number 10 did not, as had been predicted, turn up at Anfield to watch Mascherano in action for Liverpool in a 1-1 Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid, choosing to stay in Buenos Aires instead.