Laporta waiting for Puyol

Barcelona president Joan Laporta remains hopeful that club captain Carles Puyol will agree a new contract with the European and Spanish champions before the end of the year.

The 31-year-old defender has yet to agree fresh terms at the Camp Nou, with his current deal set to run out at the end of the current campaign.

Laporta told Marca: "He already knows our decision - we want him to continue and have therefore given him an offer.

"We must respect that he wants to think about his decision, but we would like him to take this decision before the end of the year."

Puyol has made well over 400 appearances for Barca since joining the club in 1995, as well as earning nearly 80 caps for Spain.