... he claims he also went for Argentina international Carlos Tevez.
Roeder made an inquiry about the South American after being impressed by his showing at the World Cup.
Roeder: "Tevez was one of the players who impressed me in the World Cup and I made a discreet inquiry about him. It was no more than one telephone call, but I was told that we had absolutely no chance of getting him and I did not pursue my inquiry any further.
"That is why I was surprised when I found out that Alan Pardew had signed both Tevez and Mascherano from Corinthians."