5 top players who left Europe this January

#1 Javier Mascherano - Hebei China Fortune (China)

Mascherano left Barcelona after seven and a half years

Now, this wasn't expected. The Argentine's decision to leave FC Barcelona in January was completely out of the blue, as Mascherano avowed his desire to leave only last month. Heibei China was the first entity to make the move, and the former unreluctantly accepted.

Having seen his chances dwindle dramatically in the recent times, Mascherano felt he's "no longer the player" he used to be and is now surplus to their requirements. The fact that he made only 12 appearances this season served to accentuate his expendability to Ernesto Valverde's long-term plan, and a move elsewhere, therefore, seems fitting.

In his seven and a half year stint with the Blaugrana, the 33-year old made 334 appearances in all competition and lifted as many as 18 trophies, scoring just once.

The fee is believed to have been around €5.5 million.