At the front of the Auditori 1899, about 100 metres away from Camp Nou, there were 18 trophies pristinely laid out. In front of them sat the Barcelona first team squad, including a suited Lionel Messi and former players Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal. To the left of them, sat the Barcelona board, headed by president Josep Maria Bartomeu. To their left, there were around 100 journalists. Everyone had come for the same thing: to say goodbye to Javier Mascherano.
If you had told Mascherano back in 2010, when he joined Barca from Liverpool for €24 million, that he'd be receiving such a send-off seven-and-a-half years later, he wouldn't have believed you.
"I lasted longer than I thought," the Argentina international admitted at his farewell event on Wednesday, holding back the tears. "I arrived seven years ago to fulfil a dream and now it's time to wake up. The dream's over. It's time to say goodbye."
#ThankYouMasche
The players say goodbye to @Mascherano