Liverpool's Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano has decided that he wants to miss the start of next season's English Premier League season so he can pursue an Olympic gold medal as part of the Argentina squad at the Beijing Olympics.

Mascherano has claimed that winning the Olympics is a major dream for all footballers and while I'd take that claim with the proverbial pinch of salt I can understand a young man wanting to represent his country if selected as it really is the highest honour any professional footballer can receive.

Whether the Liverpool hierarchy see things the same way is another matter and I find it hard to believe that Rafa Benitez will just roll over and let one of his prized midfield assets walk away for a month at a crucial starting point to next season's assault on the English title.