The Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano is understood to have told the club's new manager Roy Hodgson that he wants to leave Anfield, having met with him for the first time yesterday after returning to pre-season training.

The 26-year-old's representatives knew that he was set on leaving the club but he appears to have made that clear even earlier than they had anticipated, having been unwilling to go through the motions of training at Melwood in the knowledge that his future lay elsewhere.

Though a £25m move to reunite him with his former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez at Internazionale is the most likely outcome, Real Madrid is another possible destination for Mascherano and also Barcelona, if the Catalan club's move for Cesc Fabregas fails.

The Argentina captain had been uncontactable by Hodgson since going on holiday after the World Cup but arrived back at Melwood on schedule, along with his compatriot Maxi Rodriguez. It meant Hodgson was able to speak to a player who has made 93 performances for Liverpool and a further seven on loan from West Ham.

Hodgson had not held out any great hope of persuading Mascherano to stay, having been able only to leave several messages after the World Cup saying he was looking forward to meeting him on Merseyside.

The player's departure will at least give Hodgson a substantial sum to reinvest in another central midfielder and to seek the left back he needs.