Javier Mascherano, the Liverpool midfielder, has been named in Argentina's squad for the Olympic Games.

Sergio Batista, the Argentina manager, has included the 24-year-old in his 18-man squad along with other high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Juan Roman Riquelme. Mascherano, Riquelme and Nicolas Burdisso, the Inter Milan defender, are Argentina's three over-age players for the Under-23 tournament.

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has expressed concerns about losing such an important player for as long as a month from late July, and had hoped Mascherano, as an over-age player, would opt not to compete. Mascherano's inclusion in the squad means he will now miss both legs of the Champions League third round qualifier on August 12 and 27.

Meanwhile Emiliano Insua, the defender who yesterday signed a new three-year contract at Liverpool, is a reserve for the squad. Argentina will travel to Tokyo to play a friendly against Japan on July 29 before going on to Beijing.