LIONEL MESSI last night launched a SECOND plea for Javier Mascherano to join him at Barcelona.

LIONEL MESSI last night launched a SECOND plea for Javier Mascherano to join him at Barcelona.

And Mascherano's Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa has admitted he could be out of Anfield this summer.

Midfielder Masch, 25, is top of Barca's hit list and the Champions League winners refuse to be put off - despite Rafa Benitez's insistence that not even £50million could buy him.

Now Argentine team-mate Messi has again called on his national skipper to pack his bags and join him in La Liga.

Messi insisted: "I would like him to join, who would not want to play with great players like Javier? I hope he can come here."

Spanish international Arbeloa, 26, will almost certainly be the first out of the Kop exit door, with Real Madrid close to a near £5m deal for the full-back - as SunSport revealed first a fortnight ago.

His agent has already held two rounds of talks with Real and a deal is likely to be agreed over the next few days.

And, last night, Arbeloa, who is currently in South Africa on Confederations Cup duty, admitted: "Obviously, if Madrid is fixed on you it makes you proud.

"I would be lying if I said I was sure to start the season with Liverpool but I'll be able to think about all this on Monday after the tournament."

Meanwhile, Messi also had a pop at big-spending rivals Real Madrid, who have forked out nearly £150m to sign Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka from AC Milan.

Messi, 22, added: "It seems that Real Madrid are building a good team - but we already have one and will see if we can continue."