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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3><DIV class=mxb><DIV class=sh>Man Utd rejected Mascherano offer </DIV></DIV></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><DIV>
<DIV class=cap>Mascherano played for Argentina in the 2006 World Cup</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Manchester United turned down the opportunity to sign Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano on two occasions during the summer.
On Thursday, Mascherano, 22, and striker Carlos Tevez, 22, signed for West Ham from Corinthians of Brazil on permanent deals for undisclosed fees.
"We were never interested in Tevez," United chief executive David Gill told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"We were also offered Mascherano but we didn't want to go for him."
<DIV class=avinline>
Interview: Man Utd chief executive David Gill </DIV>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5>
</TD><TD class=sib606><DIV class=sihf>606 VIEW </DIV><DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV id=q1></DIV>I hope that the decision to not buy Mascherano doesn't come back to haunt Fergie and Gill at the end of the season <DIV id=q2></DIV><BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV class=mva>UB</DIV></DIV><DIV class=ibqlinks><DIV class=arr>606: Have your say </DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Gill added: "We were offered Mascherano for a significant sum at the start of the summer and also last week on a loan deal.
"We had watched him last season but the manager and his staff didn't want to pursue him.
"While he is clearly a very good player it was decided he wasn't required at the club."
Meanwhile, Gill remains upbeat over the chances of a new contract for striker Wayne Rooney.
England international Rooney, 20, wants to extend the six-season deal he signed when he joined United in August 2004.
"His eagerness to sign a long-term deal is great," said Gill. "I think there will be developments over the next few months.
"We want to tie him down to the club." </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<DIV class=cap>Mascherano played for Argentina in the 2006 World Cup</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Manchester United turned down the opportunity to sign Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano on two occasions during the summer. On Thursday, Mascherano, 22, and striker Carlos Tevez, 22, signed for West Ham from Corinthians of Brazil on permanent deals for undisclosed fees.
"We were never interested in Tevez," United chief executive David Gill told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"We were also offered Mascherano but we didn't want to go for him."
<DIV class=avinline>
Interview: Man Utd chief executive David Gill </DIV><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5>
</TD><TD class=sib606><DIV class=sihf>606 VIEW </DIV><DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV id=q1></DIV>I hope that the decision to not buy Mascherano doesn't come back to haunt Fergie and Gill at the end of the season <DIV id=q2></DIV><BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV class=mva>UB</DIV></DIV><DIV class=ibqlinks><DIV class=arr>606: Have your say </DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Gill added: "We were offered Mascherano for a significant sum at the start of the summer and also last week on a loan deal.
"We had watched him last season but the manager and his staff didn't want to pursue him.
"While he is clearly a very good player it was decided he wasn't required at the club."
Meanwhile, Gill remains upbeat over the chances of a new contract for striker Wayne Rooney.
England international Rooney, 20, wants to extend the six-season deal he signed when he joined United in August 2004.
"His eagerness to sign a long-term deal is great," said Gill. "I think there will be developments over the next few months.
"We want to tie him down to the club." </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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