Marquez close to Barcelona contract extension

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -Defender Rafael Marquez says that signing a contract extension with European champion Barcelona is just "a question of finding a date'' to do so.

Marquez is out of contract with the Spanish champions at the end of the season but said Sunday that he and the club were close to a deal, with only a date needing to be set "to do it.''

The 30-year-old centerback has made 227 appearances for Barcelona and won nine major trophies since his arrival from Monaco in 2003, including two Champions League and four league titles.