© EuroFootball.com
Mexican national team captain Rafael Marquez will stay at the club until 2010. This became clear on Tuesday evening when the 27-year-old footballer officially extended his contract for four seasons with the strongest European club of this year. Marquez's old contract with Barcelona was valid until June 2007.
The Spanish media reports that the new contract significantly increased the Mexican's salary, and the player's buyout clause has been increased four times. Now, in order to buy the defender from Barcelona, a team would have to pay not 25, but even 100 million euros.
After an excellent previous season at Barcelona, Marquez was often mentioned as a possible target for some powerful European clubs. Clubs like Manchester United and Milan were particularly interested in acquiring the Mexican, but the player kept his word and stayed at Barcelona. However, Marquez and the Mexican national team did not perform well at the World Cup in Germany.
In the quarterfinals, the Mexicans lost to the Argentine national team after a fierce battle, with the referee extending the match, and the first goal of the match was scored by Marquez, nicknamed "Actek".
"I never seriously considered any offer because I believe we have a team with which we can still achieve a lot," said the Mexican after signing the contract. - "I have always said that I want to end my career in Barcelona," he added.
Let's remind that the Mexican national team defender, capable of playing in the center and as a goalkeeper, moved to Barcelona from Monaco in 2003 and became one of the main pillars in Frank Rijkaard's defensive scheme.
At that time, the Catalan club paid the French 5 million euros for Marquez, and the Mexican signed a four-year contract, which would expire in June of the following year. By extending the contract with Barcelona, Marquez became the tenth player of the club with a guaranteed contract until 2010.
Until those years, contracts with the Catalan team are also held by goalkeeper Victor Valdes, defender Carles Puyol, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Deco, the midfielder who can play in defense and attack Ronaldinho, and forwards Samuel Eto'o and Eidur Gudjohnsen. The contract of the young Argentine Lionel Messi with Barcelona is valid until 2014.
It is almost undeniable that this summer the Catalan superclub will also extend the contract with Ludovic Giuly, who was not invited to the French national team.
