England kick-off their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against Bulgaria on Friday evening – click here for the best big match odds.

Javier Mascherano has promised to reveal the “lies” about his transfer to Barcelona in due course, suggesting that Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson “knows the truth”.

Mascherano, who also revealed the switch to Barcelona has come a year later than he wanted, was labelled “selfish” by Hodgson for his refusal to play for the Reds against Manchester City last week.

“Roy Hodgson knows the truth,” he said in the Guardian. “This is a happy moment for me so now is not the time to say it, but a lot of lies have been told about me and I will respond to them.

“Last year Liverpool would not let me leave. There was no way they would sell me. They had Xabi Alonso and me, and they would only let Xabi leave.”

He added in the Sun: “Against Manchester City, I was not right to play. Liverpool will always be in my heart but my time there has finished.”

The Argentina midfielder dismissed reports that former manager Rafa Benitez had tried to sign him for his new club Inter.

“I was disappointed not to be able to sign last season,” he continued. “When the best club in the world calls you, then it is something that you want to happen. I have signed for the only club who really wanted me. In no moment did I ever think that Inter was a possibility. Rafa valued me and perhaps that is why people started saying that I could go there but this is the only club that pushed to sign me.

“When I landed I said that I was achieving a dream. At last I will be able to say that I play for Barcelona, the team who I wanted to play for.”

England kick-off their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against Bulgaria on Friday evening – click here for the best big match odds.

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