Jul 22, 2008, 11:21 GMT
Madrid - Oleguer Presas is about to leave Spanish football giants Barcelona for Dutch club Ajax Amsetrdam, Catalan papers Mundo Deportivo and Sport said on Tuesday.
Mundo Deportivo said that Ajax will pay around three million euros (4.76 million dollars) for the polivalent defender.
According to Sport, Oleguer has been recommended to new Ajax coach Marco Van Basten by his former team-mate Frank Rijkaard, coach of Barca until two months ago.
Oleguer joined Barca from local side Gramanet in 2003, and Rijkaard used him either at right-back or centre-back. He helped Barca to win two Spanish league titles and the Champions League in 2006, but hardly played last season because of a string of injuries.
Oleguer, 28, had become unpopular with many fans in Spain because of his controversial left-wing opinions, in favour of Catalan separatism and various other radical causes.
It is alleged that, two years ago - when he was in the best form of his career - he made it clear to then national team coach Luis Aragones that he did not wanted to be picked for Spain.
Oleguer is to become the seventh player to leave in Barca's summer cleanout, following Ronaldinho (AC Milan), Deco (Chelsea), Lilian Thuram (PSG), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan), Jose Edmílson (Villarreal) and Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham).
Barca are also keen to sell off striker Samuel Eto'o, another player not wanted by new coach Josep Guardiola.
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