FC Barcelona full back and European Cup hero Juliano Belletti has signed a one-year extension to his current deal that will keep him at Barca until 30th June 2009. His release clause remains at € 60 mill. As a result of the agreement, Belletti will be on better terms and earnings will increase from next season.


Belletti, who was born on 20th June 1976, joined Barca for the 2004-05 season. He made his debut in the opening game of the season against Racing Santander on 29th August 2004.


Belletti will be remembered by all Barca fans as the man who scored the second and decisive goal in the final of the Champions League against Arsenal in Paris on 17th May 2006. It was his first goal in a Barca shirt and his winning 2-1 goal won FC Barcelona the second European Cup in it´s history.


In his first year for Barca, Belletti played 31 matches in La Liga and 8 matches in the UEFA Champions League. In the 2005-06 season, Belletti played 27 La Liga matches. This season 2006-07, Belletti has only played 10 La Liga matches, 2 UEFA Champions Leage and 2 Copa Del Rey matches.


Belletti held a press conference at Camp Nou on Thursday after putting pen to paper and expressed his delight:

I extended my contract with the greatest club in the world. I'm very happy here, as is my family. There are many players who want to come to Barca. I would be delighted to stay here for many years more but I'm aware that depends on my performances for the club. I'm not playing as often as I'd like, but that's the manager´s decision. The interests of the team are above anything else. My obligation is to demonstate every day to the boss during training that I'm fit and that he can count on me when needed.