West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano insists he was reluctant to sign for Manchester United after speaking to former Red Devils flop Juan Sebastian Veron.

Mascherano and fellow Argentinian Carlos Tevez both completed moves to Upton Park on transfer deadline day, with Manchester United chief executive David Gill claiming his club turned down the chance to sign the midfielder.

But 22-year-old Mascherano insisted Veron's difficult time at Old Trafford put him off a move to the north-west in any case.

"I have spoken with Veron and he told me that (Alex) Ferguson does not have much belief in Argentinian players, so I was reluctant," he said.

"I know (Argentina defender) Gabriel Heinze is there but Veron has some different stories."  PA