Barcelona's Thuram wants to keep playing next year

Barcelona's French defender Lilian Thuram said Monday he wants to keep playing football next season even though his contract with the Spanish giants is not expected to be renewed when it expires at the end of June.

"I still don't know what I am going to do next season but I want to keep playing football," the 36-year old told a news conference in Barcelona.

Thuram, the most capped French international in history with 138 appearances, joined Barcelona in July 2006.

The player also expressed confidence in Barcelona's incoming coach, 37-year-old former player and reserve team manager Pep Guardiola.

"He is young but competent. I hope people will help him, make things a bit easier and that Barcelona will win titles," he said.

Last week Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced that Guardiola, who has never held a senior coaching position, will be taking over from coach Frank Rijkaard, who had a year left on his contract.

Rijkaard led the Catalan side to the 2006 Champions League and two Spanish league titles but under his watch Barcelona is about to complete its second straight season without winning a major trophy.