Barcelona president wants to renew Rijkaard

Barcelona sports paper Sport claims that, despite almost daily rumours about possible successors (read more here), Barcelona not only wants to continue with current manager Frank Rijkaard (45) until his contract expires in 2009, but that a part of the board even would like to see the Dutchman renew for one extra year.

This option is especially been put forward by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who will leave in 2010 and who would prefer to finish his mandate together with the coach with whom he started back in 2003 instead of having to deal with a new coach in his last year as president.