BARCELONA // The teenage striker Bojan Krkic has signed a new contract with Barcelona, which will tie him to the club until 2013. Bojan, whose fresh deal has a buy-out clause of £64million (Dh432m), penned the contract just days after turning 18. He said: "I'm very happy here. I'm a young player and, just like last year, I hope to continue to have the confidence of the coaches. "Being in the first team at 18 is a privilege. I think that last season was very good for me, but that is now in the past. Everything is new and we all have to start from scratch. I need to take advantage of the minutes I am given this term."
Having been a prolific scorer in the club's youth ranks, Krkic became the fourth youngest player to play in Barca's first team when he made his senior debut in a friendly in April last year at the age of 16 and nine months. The teenager then made his competitive debut against Osasuna last September, before becoming the youngest scorer in a league game in the club's history when he netted in the 3-1 defeat against Villarreal in October.
The news of Krkic's new contract will be a boost for Barca as they begin their Primera Liga campaign today at Numancia. The Argentine forward Lionel Messi is available for the clash, having returned from his successful trip to the Olympics for the game, missing all of Barca's pre-season in the process. The champions Real Madrid will begin their title defence on the road with an away match at Deportivo La Coruna tonight.
The Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has left Robinho out of the Madrid squad for the opening game. The decision to omit the Brazil international comes amid continued speculation about the wantaway winger's future, with Robinho on Friday insisting negotiations with Chelsea were ongoing. * PA Sport
