Barcelona directors assure Rijkaard: We have Thuram

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard knows negotiations with Juventus defender Lilian Thuram are all but done.

Rijkaard, after yesterday's afternoon training session, met with Barca president Joan Laporta, vice-president Ferran Soriano and sports director Txiki Begiristain and was informed 'Operation Thuram' was well on the way to completion.
Thuram won't consider playing on at Juve next season after their demotion and admitted yesterday that it "would be beautiful" to play in Barcelona.
Barca are already in talks with Juve and will make contact with Thuram's agent, Oscar Damiani, today to assure him that Rijkaard wants the Frenchman at the Nou Camp for the start of the new season.