FC Barcelona´s Mexican defender Rafa Márquez has verbally agreed terms to extend his contract with Barca until 2010. Talks between Marquez, his agent and Barca officials have been positive and held a few days ago but no party is in a rush due to the fact that Marquez is under contract till 2007. The official documents will be prepared in the next weeks when Marquez will sign his extension officially. The extension of his current contract will also include a pay-rise mainly based on higher incentives.


The 27-year-old Barca defender played an integral part in helping Barcelona to win 2 Spanish Championship titles in two years and finally lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy in paris last Wednesday. Rafa Marquez is now regarded as one of the best central defenders in Europe.


His consistent good performance over the last 2 years and the situation that he has only 1 more year to run on his current contract has alerted top Clubs in Europe but Rafael Marquez has always categorically ruled out moving to the English Premiership and that the only other club that would appeal to him is AC Milan. Barca´s Marquez revealed:
"England does not call to me. Italy? Yes, mainly one team such as Milan".


Marquez is set to sign the new agreement: "I want to continue succeeding and remain here, nothing else.