Coco sees a future at Barcelona

BARCELONA, April 2 (Reuters) - Barcelona full-back Francesco Coco, who is on loan from AC Milan, has said that he would be happy to make a permanent move to the Catalan club. 
'Whether or not I stay depends on the club,' the Italian international was quoted as saying on Barcelona's official website on Tuesday. 

'But personally I feel very comfortable here and if Barca want to keep me I would be very glad to stay.' 

The 25-year-old defender joined Barcelona from AC Milan last August, in a loan deal that runs until the end of the season but which also includes an option for a full transfer. 

In January he said he would consider returning to Italy after he lost his place in the starting line-up when club captain Sergi returned from injury. 

However, injury has forced the Spanish international on to the sidelines once more and Coco has been enjoying another run in the first team. 

He now believes that a longer stay at Barcelona is a more attractive option than before. 

'I am not going to rush things, but as I have said I would be happy to stay. Now what I have to do is to play well so that I can keep my place in the team.' 

Coco has played in Italy's most recent World Cup warm-up matches and is likely to win a place in the squad for Korea and Japan, where Giovanni Trapattoni's side have been drawn alongside Mexico, Croatia and Ecuador in group G.