Milito Passes Medical Exam, Signs Contract

Gabi Milito passed his medical examination at Barcelona and has signed a 4-year contract that will pay him €4 million ($5.5 million) per year. The contract includes a buy-out clause of €90 million.

Upon arriving in Barcelona, Milito tol Barca TV "It's a privilege to be here" and that FC Barcelona were “always option number one” and that his arrival in Barcelona comes “at the best moment of my career”.

With regard to his knee, in which Milito tore a ligament in 2001, Barcelona's team doctor said “Since then he’s worked on the muscles and done specific training that has permitted him to play quite normally during the last few years. At present he has to keep working on the knee but he’s fit to play top flight football”.

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.

Milito Likely to Join Barca Defense

With FC Barcelona looking to solidify the center of the defense, it has been heavily speculated that the club will look to add AS Roma star and captain of the Romanian national team, Christian Chivu- but he may not be the leading candidate to line up next to Carlos Puyol, with Real Zaragoza center back and Argentina international Gabriel Milito emerging as the likeliest addition.

When asked about Barcelona’s reported interest in Gabriel Milito, Begiristain confessed that a deal with Milito is "the closest and we are working on that", but added that "there are alternatives", presumably referring to Chivu. Begiristain also said that Milito himself "had the desire" to join FC Barcelona, though he also added that "We are continuing to try and close a deal and, from there, we hope that everything goes well."

Milito, a strong, disciplined center back, looks to be fantastic fit for FC Barcelona. In addition to being a force in front of his keeper, in classic Barça style, Milito possesses strong technical skill and, though not an accomplished goal scorer, is capable of moving forward and supporting the attack. By adding Milito, Barcelona will certainly be adding an anchor on the pitch, but Milito’s attitude and leadership could prove to be as valuable to the team.