BARCELONA, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Barcelona have agreed to make Portuguese international goalkeeper Vitor Baia available on a free transfer.
Baia returned from a season-long loan spell at Porto but was told by Barca he would not form part of the first
team squad next term.
Barca currently have five goalkeepers on their books and
while the club had originally hoped to receive a transfer fee
for Baia they have now decided to cut their losses and release
him from his contract.
A move back to Portugal is now thought likely for Baia, who
was highly impressive in his country's Euro 2000 campaign.
Another goalkeeper, Dutchman Ruud Hesp, has also been told
he can leave the club.
Barca, who recently signed Richard Dutruel from Celta Vigo,
are holding out for a fee of around 300 million pesetas ($1.63
million) for Hesp, who for the past three seasons was the club's
number one keeper.
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