R.Marquez pens new deal

R.Marquez pens new deal

Rafael Marquez has signed a new contract to keep him at Barcelona until June 2012.

The 30-year-old Mexico defender's previous Nou Camp deal was due to expire next summer, leading to speculation he could move to the United States.

But he was thrilled to end such talk by committing his future to the Spanish and European champions.

"I am pleased to renew my contract at the club where I feel very loved," he told www.fcbarcelona.cat.

"[I have to] rediscover my best form in order to try to get back into the first team, although the competition is tough. I believe I still have a lot of chances to be in the starting XI."

President Joan Laporta was equally delighted to have secured the services of someone he considers "an iconic player".

Laporta added: "[He is] a man who has always been committed to the team and the club and has shown a great respect for the club. I think he is one of the great defenders in the history of FC Barcelona."

Marquez joined the Blaugrana from Monaco in 2003 and has made 227 appearances in all competitions for the Catalans.

He became the eighth player to commit his future to the club in recent months, following in the footsteps of Yaya Toure, Victor Valdes, Pedro, Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol, Eric Abidal and Andres Iniesta.

In other good news for Barca, Argentina defender Gabriel Milito has been passed fit for action by club doctors after being sidelined for 18 months with cruciate ligament damage to his right knee.

The 29-year-old suffered the injury during his team's Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United in April 2008 and has since suffered setback after setback on his way back to fitness.

Meanwhile, Barca coach Pep Guardiola has already turned his attention to Wednesday's Primera Division clash with Xerez after guiding his team to victory in the first 'Clasico' of the season.

A fine second-half volley from substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured the triumph for the champions against Real Madrid and put Guardiola's side two points clear at the top of La Liga after 12 rounds of matches.

And there is no let-up for the Catalan giants with Xerez visiting the Nou Camp in midweek for a fixture which has been brought forward due to Barca's commitments in the FIFA Club World Cup in United Arab Emirates later this month.

"We've come through two emotionally highly-charged games," said Guardiola, recalling also last Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan.

"Wednesday will be a test and we'll see if we have a team that really wants to win things."

Barca held onto their lead despite the sending-off of Sergio Busquets with almost half an hour remaining, and Madrid's frustration spilled over as Lassana Diarra also saw red late on.

Cristiano Ronaldo - returning to the Madrid side after injury to take part in his first ever 'Clasico' - missed a fantastic chance to give Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead when he shot straight at Valdes with only the Barca goalkeeper to beat.

Guardiola was particularly pleased with the defensive contributions of Valdes and captain Puyol.

"Victor is always there at important moments," he said.

"We are lucky that he has great stability. That was a great save."

Of 31-year-old Puyol, he added: "He's playing as if he was just a 20-year-old this season. He's impeccable."

Laporta singled out match-winner Ibrahimovic for praise.

"He made the difference," he said of the Sweden forward.

"That's why we signed him so that he would turn games like this around. He was marvellous."

He added: "This was a fitting way to celebrate 110 years of our history.

"It encapsulated our history with moments of joy and suffering just as we've had throughout our 110 years."