River Plate's Mascherano flattered by Real Madrid talk

River Plate midfielder Javier Mascherano admits he is flattered to be linked with Real Madrid.

The Argentina international was in Madrid on Tuesday night for the 'Game against Poverty' at the Santiago Bernabeu and told AS: "Real Madrid is a very big club that can contract any player that it wants."

"In my position there are very good players with great reputations. That they're paying attention to me is flattering, but I only think about River and making the things successful for my team."

He added: "Here, in Madrid, I have not had contact with anybody because I was resting in my hotel room before playing."