MADRID, Spain, January 29 – Barcelona’s Spanish international midfield general Xavi Hernandez has extended his deal with the Catalan club through to 2016, the club announced.
“Xavi will be with the Blaugrana through to June 30, 2016 after signing a contract renewal today,” Barca said on their website.
Xavi, 33, joins Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol in signing a contract extension, but ‘keeper Victor Valdes has said he intends to move on in June 2014 when his current contract expires.
Meanwhile, Turkish top side Galatasaray announced they have signed Ivory Coast’s veteran striker Didier Drogba on an 18-month contract.
“An agreement has been reached with Didier Yves Drogba of Shanghai Shenhua football team, starting from the second half of 2012-2013 season for a 1.5 year period,” the club said on its website.
Drogba is to be paid 10 million euros ($13.5 million) for the 18-month period, the club announced, plus a bonus of 15,000 euros ($20,000) for each match played.
Drogba left Chelsea for China last year after helping the west London side to their first Champions League title.
Galatasaray, who are currently five points clear of Fenerbahce at the top of the Turkish league, have already made a major statement in the transfer window by landing Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan earlier this month.
Drogba is currently on international duty at the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
