Azulgranas for life

In a period where the market controls almost everything, and there are big name player transfers every summer, Barcelona has ensured that three of the team's most iconic players become 'Azulgranas for life', namely Xavi, Puyol and Messi.

 

This Monday Puyol said he'd like to play until he's 40. One day later, and Barça announces that his contract has been renewed until 2016, when he'll be 38. Xavi is perhaps the greatest midfield mastermind to every play for Barcelona or Spain, and his new contract will expire when he's 36.

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Xavi and Puyol have both had difficult times at Barcelona. Indeed, the centre-mid was blamed for many of Barcelona's problems when the team went through difficult times, in the early to middle years of the last decade. Both players have even been close to leaving Barça, although that would seem unthinkable these days.

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Puyol and Xavi are now a part of Barcelona's footballing history. They would both feature in the all-time ideal Barcelona starting eleven for almost any 'Azulgrana' fan.

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The ace Zubizarreta pulled out of his sleeve was the renewal of Messi's contract, which was completely unexpected. This is real coup for the Barcelona sporting director, and it underlines the real festive atmosphere surrounding everything related to Barcelona FC.

 

Messi is the player at the fulcrum of it all, the man who is making a fantastic team legendary. His contract will now expire when he's 31, and that's another big step towards spending his entire career with Barça.

Puyol joined Barcelona in 1995, at the age of 17, Xavi in 1991, aged 11 and Messi in 2000, aged 13. When their current contracts expire, Puyol will have been an 'Azulgrana' for 21 years, Xavi for 25 and Messi for 18 – which will be more than half of their lives!

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http://www.marca.com/2012/12/18/en/football/barcelona/1355853890.html