Mascherano wants to leave Liverpool: Hodgson

Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano wants to leave Liverpool, the Premier League club's manager Roy Hodgson said on Tuesday.

Mascherano has been heavily linked in British and Italian media reports with a reunion with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez at Champions League winners Inter Milan.

Liverpool had previously stayed silent on the Argentina captain's future.

"He wants to leave the football club. He has made that perfectly clear," Hodgson said.

"I think he wanted to leave a year ago and wants to leave now as well. But he is contracted to Liverpool Football Club and whether he leaves or not will be our decision."