Carles Puyol Stalls Over New Barcelona Deal
Thursday, September 3, 2009 @ 12:52 PM
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is stalling over a contract renewal offered by the club as doubts persist over his role in the first team, according to AS.
The 31-year-old Blaugrana defender is said to be mulling over a two-year extension that would keep him at the club until he is 34-years-old but there is a suggestion now that the player may consider finishing his career overseas with Premier League big spenders Chelsea and Manchester City and Italian giants Milan identified as clubs keeping tabs on the progress of contract negotiations.
Puyol is said to have the backing of coach Pep Guardiola who said he wants to hold onto the captain because he can play any position in the back four.
The veteran defender, who played his 300th league game for Barca in Monday's 2-0 win over Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou, is reportedly unconvinced about his future role at the club.
Puyol, who has lifted three La Liga titles and two European Cups as captain, is said to be in no hurry to sign a deal and wants to see how this season develops with Rafael Marquez and new-signing Dmytro Chygrynskiy vying for the centre-back positions and Pep Guardiola's position at the club yet to be set in stone.
It is understood that a role on the substitutes bench would most likely diminish the likelihood of him signing an extension.
Source: goal.com