Carles Puyol has agreed in principle to a new three-year contract extension with Barcelona.
Barcelona captain agrees in principle to new three-year contract
Barcelona have confirmed that Carles Puyol has agreed in principle to a new three-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2013.
The Barca captain was expected to take more of a back seat this season following the £22.5million arrival of Dmytro Chygrynskiy from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer.
But with the Ukrainian currently sidelined with a knee injury, the 31-year-old has missed just two matches in all competitions this season.
The Spain international led Barca to an unprecedented Treble last season of La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey success.
The news will delight Barca fans, with whom Puyol is a massive favourite having come through the ranks at Camp Nou.
Resounding ovation
Puyol offers the Spanish champions versatility across the back four with manager Pep Guardiola using him as an emergency right-back in last season's Champions League final, while he has not been averse to playing left-back in the past.
"FC Barcelona and Carles Puyol have reached an agreement in principle to renew the captain's contract until 2013," a statement read on the
club's official website.
"Now the new conditions will be drawn up and will be signed in the next few
days.
"The coach Pep Guardiola and the footballer himself made the news known to the rest of his team-mates just before the start of training this morning.
"The Barca squad, united in a circle, welcomed it with a resounding ovation
and congratulated the captain for the agreement in principle."
