Gaby Milito - Out for 7-9 months

[lionel]

^ sounds good!

[Pat Murphy]

Mean Central Defence next season now with mean backups.

[lionel]

[RavenKing]

Well it seems Barca are all done for the summer. The problem with Gabi is he's too similar to Puyol. Barca are still weak in the air although the presence of Abidal and Toure should help with that.

[lionel]

¿Cuál debe ser la pareja de centrales titular en el Barça?
(which should barca's CBs?)

-- 77%.....Puyol-Milito
-- 10%.....Puyol-Márquez
-- 3%.......Puyol-Thuram
-- 5%.......Milito-Márquez
-- 3%.......Milito-Thuram
-- 3%.......Márquez-Thuram

Total votos: 2042
SPORT


(who the hell voted for marquez-thuram ???)

[Pat Murphy]

That poll goes up to 101% again

Puyol - Milito will almost definately be first choice but I think Marquez - Milito will be the prefered CB's in the first 2 months while Puyol is injured. If we do terribly in the first 2 months then La Liga can be lost so I hope the defence will gel.

[Pat Murphy]

Milito Thanks Zaragoza, Honoured By Barca Move

Gabriel Milito was delighted with the news that everything is in place for him to complete his move to Barcelona following the Copa America.

Milito will travel to Barcelona on Monday, after the Copa America final against Brazil, and put pen to paper on a four year deal after completing a medical.

"It is an honour to be able to wear this [the Barcelona] shirt," a friend of the player quotes him as saying.

"It is already done, and it gives me a lot of happiness, and fills me with anticipation.

"It is an honour to wear this t-shirt, as much due to the history. It is a dream come true for anyone to play for Barcelona.

"However, I am always going to be thankful to Zaragoza, who gave me the chance to play in La Liga [after the infamously failed Real Madrid medical], and the fans, who gave me a lot of affection."

Barcelona were initially interested in Christian Chivu, while Milito seemed to be headed for Juventus. However, the Turin giants were priced out after Real Madrid stepped in.

Next, Los Merengues drifted towards Barca target Chivu, and the Catalans chose to give up on the Romanian and focus on the Argentine instead. Juventus have since signed Jorge Andrade, and Madrid have snapped up Pepe. Chivu's future remains in the balance.

Barcelona will now focus on offloading a few players, confirmed sporting director Txiki Begiristain. Maxi Lopez, Juliano Belletti and Ludovic Giuly are certain to leave, while Ezquerro and Motta or Edmilson will also be allowed to leave if a half-decent offer comes in.

Eidur Gudjohnsen is staying put, as of now. However, it also has a lot to do with no club being willing to meet Barcelona's asking price and the player's wage demands.

from Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Milito Thanks Zaragoza, Honoured By Barca Move

[BlackNess]

Gabi Milito Excited By Messi Link Up

Gabriel Milito is excited about the prospect of playing alongside Lionel Messi every day after agreeing a deal to join FC Barcelona.

The 26-year-old completed a deal to move to Camp Nou for €17.5m while on duty at the Copa América and could not hide his delight.

During the negotiations, Milito admitted that Lionel Messi had told him everything about the Blaugrana and now he is looking forward to joining his new team-mate.

"I am going to enjoy playing next to him every day," he said. "He is a spectacular player, a phenomenon.

"I do mean any disrespect, but I prefer to talk about this for the first time when I am at Barcelona.

"I am very pleased with the move and I am very excited by it.

"But now I am just waiting to sign the contract and take the medical before saying too much more."

The central defender is focussing on Argentina's appearance in the Copa América final on Sunday and was not prepared to say much about his move.

Despite being pressed by members of the Catalan press pack in Venezuela, Milito insisted that he would think about Barça on Monday.

"It is one of the most important games in my career and I want to just focus on that.

"I have nothing more to say, sorry.

"Barça have not forbidden me to do anything. I do not want to talk about that because now is not the time. But I am happy by what has happened."

[Pat Murphy]

Goal.com - Barcelona - Gaby Milito To Formally Sign Contract On Wednesday

FCBarcelona.cat


Gaby Milito will sign his contract on Wednesday and will apparently take the number 18 shirt which was Santi Ezquerro's last season and Gabri before him.

Also he'll probably be presented on Thursday.

[BlackNess]

Milito And Messi Will Miss Barcelona's Pre-Season

Barcelona's Argentinian pair, exhausted after reaching the Copa America final only to lose 3-0 to Brazil, will miss the pre season tours to Scotland and Asia; instead, they'll rest up before pre season...



FC Barcelona has announced that new signing Gabi Milito will be granted a leave of absence after completing his medical and signing for the Nou Camp club.

Alongside his compatriot Lionel Messi, as well as Mexican internationalist Rafa Marquez, he is being given extra recuperation time ahead of the new season. The trio will skip the pre-season tour of Scotland and the exhibition matches in Asia.

Milito is expected to undergo his fitness test on Wednesday and will then rest up. The three Copa America players will report back to the club on August 7.

[Pat Murphy]

Milito arrives in Barcelona. He'll be presented tomorrow or Thursday.

[BlackNess]

Milito: "Barca Is The Best Club In The World"

The Gaby Milito saga has officially come to an end as the Argentinian defender successfully underwent a medical at the Nou Camp. Tomorrow, he'll be officially unveiled and issued with his playing kit, but he's already clearly feeling welcome at Barcelona...

After finishing his Copa America campaign with Argentina, Gaby Milito flew to Barcelona to finalise his transfer to the Catalonia giants from Real Zaragoza.

Briefly speaking to the press at the Nou Camp, he offered some remarks on his future, as well as waxing lyrical about what a great club he finds Barca to be.

Predictably, he was full of praise for the azulgrana. "People close to me know that Barcelona was always my number one option," he sighed.

"That's because it's a great club and has a great squad. I've always wanted to play here.

"I know the Spanish league well after four years in Zaragoza and feel I am ready to play here, but now I must prove it. Hopefully I can play well here and gain good results," he added, before saying that Barcelona was at the moment the "best club in the world."

He was muted when asked whether or not he was willing to be one of the leaders of the dressing room, but spared no words when discussing the state of the squad, saying it would be a "pleasure" to play alongside attackers such as Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi and Henry.

[Pat Murphy]

Milito presented and signs a 4 year contract. He takes Gio's old number 12.

[lionel]

milito looks like a nomber 3/4 to me... yea I'm weird, I always match a nomber to every player I see.
12 looks bad for him. but cares ffs?!

welcome gabi!

[Pat Murphy]

Originally Posted by lionel

milito looks like a nomber 3/4 to me... yea I'm weird, I always match a nomber to every player I see.
12 looks bad for him. but cares ffs?!

welcome gabi!

Weird you say that because.........

Milito lució el '12'... pero posiblemente llevará el '3' de Motta - SPORT - Barça


When Motta leaves Gaby Milito will apparently take his number 3