Barca reach agreement with Zaragoza

Spanish media reports that FC Bacelona will pay euro17 million for Argentina international defender Gaby Milito.

FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with Zaragoza to sign central defender Gaby Milito.

Spanish media reported that Barcelona will pay euro17 million (US$23.4 million) for the Argentina international. Milito, who is in Venezuela with Argentina for the Copa America, still has to agree to the four-year deal.

Milito's signing would take the club's summer transfer spending to nearly euro70 million (US$96 million).

Barcelona, which finished the season without a trophy for the first time since 2004, signed Arsenal striker Thierry Henry for euro24 million (US$32 million) last month, and also added Monaco midfielder Yaya Toure and Lyon's Eric Abidal. Barcelona finished runner-up in the league to rival Real Madrid.

Milito, 26, has been at La Romareda since 2003 after signing from Argentina's Independiente, where he played for six years.