Barça Agrees to Milito Transfer Terms

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to acquire center back Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza, where he spent the past four seasons, for €20.5 million ($28.3 million). Milito, currently participating in the Copa América with Argentina’s national team, is scheduled to travel to Barcelona for a medical examination at the conclusion of the tournament, after which he will sign a contract and be presented as a Barcelona player.

Of Milito, Txiki Begiristain said “We know him well… He has played in the Spanish league for four years at a very high level. He is a leader both on the field and in the dressing room as well as being a great professional with so many qualities. He is aggressive, quick, strong in the air and has a good left foot." At the conclusion of the club’s search for a new central defender, the club has no doubt that it has added the right player.

Gabi Milito started his professional career in 1997, at 17 years of age, in his native Argentina, with Independiente. Milito’s career was nearly jeopardized by a serious knee injury in 2001 which kept him out of action for nine months. However, Gabi returned to action triumphantly, helping Independiente to the 2002 Argentine Apertura title. In his time with the Independiente (1997-2003), Milito played 123 games and scored three goals.

Milito was thought to be headed to Real Madrid following the 2002-2003 season, however, the deal fell apart when Madrid’s doctors refused to sign off on the state of Milito’s knee in the aftermath of the 2001 injury. As a result, Milito wound up going to Real Zaragoza, where he was a member of that season’s Copa del Rey winning side; the victory was likely made infinitely sweeter for Milito, as Zargoza beat Real Madrid in the final.

Gabi Milito has been a fixture for Argentina on the international scene. He was a member of Argentina’s 1999 Under-20 team, and has appeared 32 times for Argentina’s senior team, taking part in the 2005 Confederations Cup, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as the current Copa America.