Barcelona releases Mexico captain Marquez

BARCELONA (Reuters) -- Mexico captain Rafael Marquez, who has been strongly linked in the media with a move to New York Red Bulls, has reached a deal with La Liga champions Barcelona that releases him from his contract.

"Barcelona and the player Rafa Marquez have agreed to rescind, by mutual consent, the contract that tied the two parties together until June 30, 2012," Barca said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.cat) on Saturday.

If the deal with the Red Bulls goes through, Marquez would join former Barca team mate Thierry Henry, the French striker who this month moved to Major League Soccer (MLS) after he was also freed from his contract.

Marquez, 31, can operate as a center back or defensive midfielder and would be the Red Bulls' third "designated player", whose wages are mostly exempt from the salary cap, along with Henry and Colombian Juan Pablo Angel.

He joined Barca from French side Monaco in 2003 and has won four Spanish league titles and two European Champions League crowns.