Transfer history: Marquez was close to Madrid

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona player Rafael Márquez (30) was close to joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2002.

Márquez confirmed the story to the paper: "I was very, but really very close to moving to Real Madrid, can you imagine that? It didn't happen and thanks to God I'm still here." One year later, Márquez joined Barcelona.

The player's agent Enrique Nieto explained why the transfer didn't go through in the end: "The truth is that it didn't happen because they had tactical doubts. They couldn't decide on the question if Rafa was better as central defender or as defensive midfielder and the deal was was cancelled. That's how life can go..."

The paper also reports, based upon statement of the agent, that Real Madrid and Barcelona were already interested in Márquez when he was still playing in Mexico. The two clubs were following the player and drew up scouting reports but none of them took the decision of signing him. Márquez in the end signed with French league club Monaco in the summer of 1999.

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Last-minute change to Marquez renewal offer

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona has made a last-minute change to the contract renewal offered to Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (30), whose current contract expires next summer.

While Márquez had initially asked for an extra three years with the last year being optional and a deal seemed to have been found for an extra two years, the player's agent Enrique Nieto would yesterday morning have been offered during a meeting in the Camp Nou offices to sign a contract for only one extra year plus an optional second year.

* Catalan newspaper El Periodico claims that the negotiations between Barcelona and the player went on yesterday and that there's still no deal. The economic side of the deal wouldn't cause any problems but there's still no agreement on the duration of the contract: Barcelona would offer only one extra year, while Márquez would want two more years. *

Catalan sports paper Sport on the other hand claims that Márquez didn't sign like expected the contract renewal for two more years yesterday because Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain didn't have time. The signature would have been postponed to next week.

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Marquez to sign renewal until 2012 today
Fiorentina interested in Marquez

Marquez to sign renewal until 2012 today

Both main Catalan sports papers claim that Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (30), whose current contract ecpires next year, will sign a contract renewal today after his agent Enrique Nieto met with Barcelona officials earlier this week.

Asked about the renewal negotiations, Nieto said in an interview with El Mundo Deportivo that a deal is very close:

"There are some minor things left but there won't be any problems. I hope that everything can be official on Friday. It's a matter of details. Márquez is feeling very good in Barcelona and he wants to stay for a long time."

The paper claims that Nieto met yesterday with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of football Raúl Sanllehí outside the Camp Nou offices. Barcelona would offer the player a renewal for two more years, until 2012, keeping the same fixed salary and raising the incentives.

Sport claims that Márquez' agent already met on Wednesday afternoon with Begiristain in the Camp Nou offices and that a pre-agreement was reached. The Mexican defender would sign a new contract until 2012, with an option for an extra year depending on the minutes played and on his performances. His salary would stay the same, but he could get extra incentives and bonuses based on the team results.

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Marquez will next week sign two-year extension

Mexican news agency Reforma claims that Barcelona central defender Rafael Márquez (30), whose current contract expires next year, will stay for three more years at Barcelona, until the summer 2012.

The deal on a two-year extension of the contract would be signed next Tuesday or Wednesday.

A source close to the negotiations is quoted as saying: "The terms and the details of the contract still haven't been agreed upon. He has one more year on his contract and the plan is to sign a new contract that would start in August and end in 2012. There's nothing official about interested clubs, only rumours. There are always rumours about clubs wanting good players."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the negotiations with Márquez will start next week. The Mexican centre-back would be offered to stay longer but wouldn't get a pay rise, only an extension for a few more years. Enrique Nieto, one of the player's agents, is quoted by the paper as saying that he will travel to Barcelona soon and that he thinks everything will be dealt with rapidly and with ease.

Read more:
Fiorentina interested in Marquez
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Marquez hopes to renew this year

Marquez wants to renew until 2012

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29) wants to stay with Barcelona until 2012.

At that moment, the player plans to retire at the highest level before maybe playing a last season with his former Mexican club Atlas de Guadalajara.

The current ontract of the player expires in the summer of 2010, which means that Márquez would like to close a deal with Barcelona on a two-year extension. The defender has therefore given instructions to his agent to start talking with Barcelona (read more here).

Márquez' agent Enrique Nieto was in Barcelona over the last days but didn't met with the club since Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is still in Japan. The negotiations on the contract renewal are now scheduled to start in January when Nieto will meet with Begiristain and Barcelona general director of football Raül Sanllehí.

Last summer, Márquez seemed on his way out before talking to newly appointed manager Josep Guardiola, who has put his trust in the Mexican. Márquez had two interesting offers from Italian top clubs, one of them from AC Milan, and an offer by Atlético Madrid.

Márquez, who joined Barcelona in the summer of 2003 and who played already 200 official games with the Barcelona shirt, has always prefered to stay in Barcelona. The player is very well integrated in the city, with one of his last investments being becoming a shareholder of the popular Mexican restaurant La Coronela.

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Guardiola holds on to Marquez

All media agree that future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has asked the club not to sell Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29). Guardiola especially likes the passing qualities of the player and thinks it would be very difficult to find a valid substitute for Márquez on the current market.

Enrique Nieto, one of the agents of Márquez, said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that the player wishes to stay (read more here). Nieto met earlier this week with Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that an exit was not even discussed.

It is nevertheless believed that Barcelona could change its mind if a big offer comes in for the Mexican. Márquez has in the last few weeks again been linked with AC Milan (read more here).

And Atlético Madrid manager Javier Aguirre said on Friday in an interview with Mexican sports paper Esto that he would like to transfer Márquez: "It's no secret that I think he's a very interesting player. He's a reference in international football and he can play several positions. Besides being a friend, Rafa is a great player. Every manager would like tio have him in his team, so I'm not an exception."

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Milito injury leads to Marquez stay

How things stand: Central defenders

Milan also wants Marquez

Barcelona holding on to Marquez

Enrique Nieto, the agent of Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29), has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he has talked with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain about the situation of the player: "He said that the club will continue to count on Márquez next season."

New Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have asked to keep Márquez, whose contract expires in 2010, in the squad because he likes his build up from the back.

Read more:

Milito injury leads to Marquez stay

How things stand: Central defenders

Looking for a substitute for Marquez