Liverpool are refusing to sell Javier Mascherano to Inter Milan.

The Mail on Sunday says Liverpool plan to take revenge on Benitez by selling Argentina captain Javier Mascherano to Barcelona instead of Inter Milan, their former boss's new club.

The Spanish champions will fund the deal by selling Yaya Toure to Manchester City for £25m.

The news will be received badly by Benitez, who signed Mascherano for Liverpool in 2008. He wanted the player at the San Siro but will instead pay for falling out with the Liverpool hierarchy before he left for Italy.

Mascherano, who has wanted to move for 12 months, refused to sign a new contract and continued off-field unrest will not persuade him to change his mind.