The Argentine international wants to enjoy playing time in order to get in shape for the 2018 World Cup, but he's not an option for Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian

Javier Mascherano's options to leave Barcelona have one less suitor as of today, considering that Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian are not interested in signing the versatile footballer.

Speaking on behalf of the club, a spokesperson had some unflattering comments about Mascherano's chances of joining the team.

"Those rumors are not true. We haven't thought about signing  Mascherano in the near future. Our main goal is to get better results for next season, and I believe that Mascherano is way too old to fit in our current squad," the spokesman said about the Argentinean, who will turn 34 years old next year.

Mascherano has requested Barcelona's execs to let him leave this winter in order to enjoy enough minutes to get to the World Cup in shape. Nevertheless, the club has stated that his absence could weaken the squad if they can't find a suitable replacement. With that in mind, it seems like "Masche" will have to keep playing for Los Blaugranas until the end of the 2019 season, when his contract expires.