Barca agree deal for Argentina defender Milito

MADRID, July 11 (Reuters) Real Zaragoza have agreed to sell Argentina defender Gabriel Milito to Barcelona, the Primera Liga clubs said today.

The 26-year-old centre back, who is on duty with Argentina at the Copa America, is to move on a four-year contract for a fee Spanish media reported to be 23.37 million dollar, rising to 20.5 million depending on results.

''He is a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room and a great professional,'' Barca sports director Txiki Begiristain told the club's Web site (www.fcbarcelona.com).

''He was one of our main objectives and a priority to reinforce the defence.'' Barcelona have been seeking to strengthen their defence after centre back Carles Puyol picked up a knee ligament injury that will rule him out of the start of next season.

They had been chasing AS Roma's Romanian defender Cristian Chivu, but president Joan Laporta said that deal had stalled over the player's wage demands.

Milito joined Zaragoza from Independiente in 2003 for 3.5 million dollar after a move to Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid fell through at the last minute.

Real pulled out of the million-deal citing concerns over a knee ligament injury the player suffered in 2001.

Milito has been a consistent performer at Zaragoza, winning the King's Cup with them in 2004, and extended his contract to 2010 two years ago.

He will become Barca's fourth close-season signing after France striker Thierry Henry, Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure and France left back Eric Abidal.

''The priorities we had to improve the squad have been completed, now all we have to do is work on the players who will be leaving to have the team ready for Aug. 31,'' Begiristain added.

REUTERS BJR PM2042