MADRID, July 5 - Barcelona are expecting to close
a deal to sign Portugal midfielder Deco this week, according to
club president Joan Laporta.
"We only have to tie up the final details of the agreement,"
Laporta told Monday's sports daily El Mundo Deportivo. "I'm
quite optimistic and believe that Deco will end up becoming a
Barcelona player."
The Spanish sports press said Barca were prepared to pay
Porto 12 million euros (