Barcelona director of football Txiki Begiristain has spoken about the contract renewal of Mexican defender Rafael Marquez, by saying it is the "most urgent" for the club at present.

Marquez and Carles Puyol have both taken lengthy periods before accepting the contracts offered to them by the club, with Puyol finally accepting his offer late last week, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2013.

"I had doubts, because I knew if I signed here I would be practically be retired by the end, and it was time to decide if I should try an adventure abroad, and so I asked for some time to think about it," Puyol remarked after the win over Real Zaragoza, according to Sport.

With Marquez's deal set to expire next June, the 30-year-old defender would be entitled to listen to offers from other clubs from January onwards, and club officials therefore want the matter resolved before the end of the year.

"Marquez's renewal is now most urgent," Begiristain was quoted as saying by Marca.