Mexico captain Marquez poised to leave Barcelona

MADRID (Reuters) -- Rafael Marquez, who has been strongly linked in the media with a move to New York Red Bulls, is on the verge of leaving Barcelona, new Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said on Friday.

The Mexico captain's exit "just needed the final details tying up", Zubizarreta, who was appointed to replace Txiki Begiristain, said at his presentation to the media at the Nou Camp.

If the deal with the Red Bulls goes through, Marquez would join former Barca team mate Thierry Henry, the French striker who this month moved to Major League Soccer after he was freed from his contract.

Marquez, 31, can operate as a center back or defensive midfielder and would be the Red Bulls' third "designated player", whose wages are mostly outside of the salary cap, along with Henry and Colombian Juan Pablo Angel.

He joined Barca from French side Monaco in 2003 and has won four Spanish league titles and two European Champions League crowns.