Real Zaragoza want loan deal to get Baia

Real Zaragoza are negotiating with FC Barcelona to take unsettled goalkeeper Vitor Baia on loan for the rest of the season.

Portuguese international Baia has been banished from the first team after speaking out against Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal. He is unlikely to play for the Barcelona first team again after an expensive 1996 move to the club from Porto and the loan to Zaragoza would allow him to play first team football. He wants to keep his place in the Portugal national side and needs to play in a first team to do this with Euro 2000 qualifiers due early next year. Baia is keen on the move as he does not want his career to stall completely as Barcelona wait for big money offers for the man regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in world football.