Barça to fight with Madrid over Argie star

By European Football
October 6 2006

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has clearly stated he is very interested in signing Real Madrid's main target Fernando Gago, Boca Jrs. 20-year-old star. Upon hearing that Madrid officials are starting negotiations, he urged Boca Jrs. president not to sell the talented midfielder to Madrid. Barcelona chairman Joan Laporta is currently in Buenos Aires closing a deal with Arsenal de Sarandí (a small Argentinian club completely unrelated to the Gunners) in which the local institution will serve as a satellite club for the Spanish giants and will help them to train and scout for young Argentinian talents.

But as he found out that Real Madrid were serious about signing Boca Jrs. star Fernando Gago, he immediately tried to get in the way, publicly admitting he was interested in preventing this and claiming he wanted the classy midfielder. Laporta didn't waste any time: he invited Barça secretary Txiki Begiristain to join him in Argentina, where he will take a close look at Gago and Rodrigo Palacio, Laporta's other main desire, and arranged a meeting with Boca Jrs. president Mauricio Macri.

Laporta urged his Boca Jrs. colleague not to sell Gago to Madrid and offered him an exclusive option deal. As he approached the media with cynicism, he said:

"Well, he [Gago] hasn't signed for them [Madrid] yet, innit?

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