Pellegrini: Mascherano interests me a lot and the plan is for him to come LaLiga - Barcelona Hebei Fortune coach wants the Argentine

Javier Mascherano is close to signing a deal with Chinese club Hebei Fortune, with coach Manuel Pellegrini very interested in the Argentine and the qualities he can bring to the team.

His transfer could be confirmed in the upcoming days.

"The plan is that he comes," Pellegrini said in a recent interview.

"We have to see his situation at Barcelona, but he is a player that I am very interested in.

"I was the one who gave him his debut with River Plate.

"Mascherano is a leader and I think he would be very good for my team in the Chinese Super League."

If the Barcelona defender goes through with the deal, he would join Hebei Fortune for their pre-season training in Marbella, which will last until February.

The former Manchester City boss also took the time to speak on Barcelona's summer signing, Paulinho.

"The Chinese League is competitive because the teams are very close to each other, although it is not competitive throughout," the manager said.

"The level of the national teams are similar and as soon as there are important foreign players, like Paulinho, they make a difference."

Paulinho has been meeting the high expectations at the Catalan club and Pellegrini is not surprised by the Brazilian's performances.

"I am not surprised, I knew he was going to do well," he noted.

"I already knew him from Tottenham.

"I'm not surprised by his success in Spain."

Paulinho signed from Guangzhou Evergrande last summer.