FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.02.2008 10:35

Milito returns to La Romareda

Sandra Sarmiento

Gabriel Milito ios due to return to La Romareda for the first time since he left Real Zaragoza last summer to join Barcelona and will be facing his brother Diego too.

The Argentinian defender has proved to be a huge success at Camp Nou as he has become the most used central defender in the squad after some very assured displays at the back in Frank Rijkaard's team. Since moving to the club at the start of the season, Milito has solidified an already strong defence and has made Barça one of the stingiest back lines in the league. Now he will be aiming to keep another clean sheet as he goes back to his former club on Saturday evening.

Regular player

Milito was a regular in the Zaragoza team for four seasons and missed only 13 league games during that time. Whether under Paco Flores, Víctor Muñoz or Víctor Fernández, the powerful defender was always a mainstay in the team. A specialist in the air, Milito scored five goals during his time at Zaragoza and helped the club to win the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid in 2004 when they were victorious in the Olímpic Estadi in Barcelona. With Barça, the 27-year-old is fourth in the list of players with most minutes as he missed just four games this term.

Emotional reunion

It will be an emotional return to Zaragoza for Milito as he meets up with his brother as well as the players with whom he shared so many fond memories, like goalkeeper Cesar Sánchez, Luís Carlos Cuartero and Óscar González, all of whom were there for the four years with him. But seeing Diego will be the biggest thing, but he will have to stop him from adding to his total of 14 goals.