Iniesta to replace Ronaldinho as third captain

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has put a deadline on the choice of the captains for this season.

Last weekend he told the squad that they should finally make a decision, at the latest today, about which players will represent the squad during this season.

A few meetings already took place but no final decision has been taken yet.

Everything nevertheless indicates that central defender Carles Puyol (30) and midfielder Xavi (28) will continue to act as team captains. With third captain Ronaldinho having left Barcelona, it is expected that midfielder Andrés Iniesta (24) will take the Brazilian's place.

Other names that have been mentioned as candidates are goalkeepers Víctor Valdés (26) and Albert Jorquera (29), defender Rafael Márquez (29) and forward Samuel Eto'o (27).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that there will possibly be decided to add a fourth and a fifth captain. These positions could be filled in by Valdés and Márquez. Guardiola would also have asked Lionel Messi (21) to be a candidate for one of those two last spots because he wants the Argentinian to take up some more responsibility off the pitch.

The plan is to find a consensus on the issue without having to vote.

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