Ambitious Ateltico Madrid chief Miguel Angel Gil Marin is claiming the club have swung seperate deals for Independiente sensation Sergio Aguero and a pair of defenders.

The teenage attacker would come aboard despite big interest from Bayern Munich.

Los Rojiblancos turned to Aguero after missing out on Arsenal recruit Tomáš Rosický.

"Deals have been closed with Aguero, (Getafe wingback) Mariano Pernia and (Acedemica defender) Zé Castro," said Marin. "We hope they will all be a great success."

"We are continuing to scour the market to improve our team."

Jorge Burruchaga, a World Cup-winner with Argentina in 1986, is set to be named the new coach of Independiente on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old, who made his name as a player at Independiente, stepped down as manager of Estudiantes only last week but is set to fulfil a long-standing ambition by being named boss of his former club.

Independiente treasurer Eduardo Espada said: "The deal is 90% done. We just lack some details but I think we will finish negotiations next Tuesday."

But the omission of Internazionale defender Javier Zanetti and Bayern Munich midfielder Martin Demichelis is the biggest talking point.

Argentina coach Jose Nestor Pekerman admitted he had anguished over making his final cuts.

'In all this period in charge of the national team, I've tried to encourage competition between players to motivate everybody to be in the World Cup,' he said.

'There were a lot of players who had a chance of being included. And a few big names had to give way, too.'

Inter Milan midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has disclosed that he will decide whether to stay with the club within the next week or so.

The former Independiente star is pondering a return to Argentine football.

"I will make my final decision in the coming days," he told the club website. "I have to speak with my family."

"I have had some good and less good times in my two years at Inter."

Aguero converted a penalty as the Red Devils won 2-0 away to Olimpo on Saturday but picked up his fifth yellow card and will miss next week's game at home to Boca Juniors through suspension.

"Although I still don't know what's going to happen to me, this could have been my last goal and my last game for Independiente," he told Argentine television after the game.

Aguero has made a huge impact in his first professional season and many would like to see him included in Argentina's World Cup squad, even though he has yet to play a full international.

Independiente have denied media reports that they have reached a deal with Spain's Atletico Madrid. Last month, Bayern Munich said they were also considering a move for Aguero and director of football Uli Hoeness had watched him in action.

Spanish sports daily Marca said Friday that Atletico offered the Argentine prodigy a six-year contract.

Marca said Aguero has already been courted by European clubs including FC Barcelona, Villarreal and Bayern Munich. He would join countrymen Leo Franco, Maxi Rodriguez, Luciano Galletti and Ariel Ibagaza at Atletico.

Aguero is considered an outside chance for selection to Argentina's World Cup squad after starring for the country's youth teams.

Calls to Atletico were unanswered.

Grondona told Radio La Red in Buenos Aires: "Argentina have to be in the top four because we have the necessary players.

"We have to play the seven matches, we have the elements to achieve that. Now, we'll see if we can match it all together to make that true."

In Argentina press and fans are demanding that some home-based players are included in the 23-man squad that Pekerman must hand in on May 15.

Boca Juniors striker Rodrigo Palacio, Independiente's wagering 17-year-old playmaker Sergio Aguero and goalkeeper Oscar Ustari have all been touted.

But Grondona believes the foreign legion will form the list.

"There are a lot of players who are in Europe and competition there demands more than here," he said. "In the last World Cups, squads were formed with the foreign-based men.

"However, there are some matches to play yet and some players could get injured. Then, I think the home-based can be included in their place."

Grondona also expressed his sorrow that Uruguay had missed out on Germany 2006.

"They have a great number of players in Europe but they won't be playing the World Cup, it is sad," he added.

Americo Gallego, who manages Mexican soccer club Toluca, told Argentine radio station La Red on Friday that he is ready to lead Argentine club Independiente, which he last took to the championships in 2002.

"If Independiente wants me, I am ready. It would be an honor to lead them," said the Argentine manager, known to fans as Tolo. However, at present Toluca remains his priority, and he is currently negotiating with Toluca for a renewal of his contract there, he said.

The Argentine club, "have spoken with my agents, but they have not spoken directly to me, because they have a manager working for them," he said.

Independiente is managed by Julio Falcioni, who is hated by fans, because he has not managed to win the results hoped for. Gallego, 51 on Tuesday, has won at least one championship in each club he has managed.

In 1994, in his first managment role at River Plate, the team won the Argentine league Opening Championship without a single loss. He helped the team to another league trophy in 2000; won the 2002 trophy for Independiente betting in 2002, for Newell's Old Boys in 2004, and helped win the Mexican league Opening trophy for Toluca in 2005.

As a player, Tolo was an outstanding midfielder at Newell's and River, and was part of Argentina's World Cup winning squad in 1978.

As part of the soccer team's latest plan to boost its brand name off the field, Boca is offering fans more than 500 items adorned with the club's popular shield.

From shirts to credit cards, cellphones, fine jewellery, diapers and computers, there are items to meet every fan's fancy. For as little as $200 US fans can even purchase a coffin with an engraved Boca shield.

During the last 10 years, the club has built up Boca's brand, following the model of Real Madrid and Manchester United, two teams who have mastered the art of combining soccer and business.

Boca is hoping to match the success the team has had on the field - five Argentine titles and eight international trophies since 1998 - with prowess in business.

The latest promotion is part of the club's ultimate goal to go global and increase upon its annual gains of about $10 million.

That does not include the clubs profit from selling players, such as the recent sale of Carlos Tevez to Corinthians for $19 million.

"For the first time we have designed a marketing plan in the club, something unprecedented for Argentina soccer. We see the potential of business," said Orlando Salvestrini, a representative from Boca Crece, the business that is managing the club's image.

This is a multinational promotion of the Boca brand. The club, which already has 250 licenses with companies, has attracted business of all sizes, including a major credit card company, a sports apparel manufacturer and a tire maker.

Still, many say that the key to Boca's brand success is the team's many fans.

Businessman Roberto Mayo, who brought a fleet of 200 Boca taxis to the streets recently, said one fan asked for 15 Boca taxis to wait outside a church and honk their horns when the bride and groom exited their wedding ceremony.

He said Boca fans will stop at nothing to show their allegiance.

"Money is not the issue: rich or poor, win or lose, they will always stand by their team," Mayo said.

Nonetheless, not all the club's attempts to build its brand have won over the fans. A local Boca TV channel was short-lived, along with a theme bar.

The club continues to work on new projects, however.

A few days ago, Boca announced plans to give its image to a cellphone company, and it also has plans to start construction on a private neighbourhood and a cemetery in greater Buenos Aires.

Although the club's marketing plan is ahead of other popular Argentine teams like River Plate, Racing Club and Independiente, it is still lags behind the trends of teams like Real Madrid, which earned 124 million euros ($172 million Cdn) from its global marketing efforts in the 2004-05 season.

"We want Boca to be a world brand," said Boca president Mauricio Macri, whose team has played friendly matches in Asia and also has close ties with a club team in South Korea.

Currently, fans can find Boca shirts in sport stores all over the world. In New York, a local Nike store dedicated a window display to Boca, featuring photos of fans and memorabilia explaining Boca's history.

Similarly, millions of tourists to La Bombonera stadium and pay $200 to see a match, and take a tour of the Boca neighbourhood and museum promoting the "Boca sporting passion."

With five rounds to go, River and Boca have 28 points, one more than Lanus - which defeated former leader Newell's on Friday - two more than Gimnasia Jujuy, and three ahead of Newell's.

League top striker Ernesto Farias scored twice as River Plate beat Instituto 3-1. Instituto was relegated to second division.

Victor Zapata put River ahead with a superb 30-metre shot in the 13th minute, and Walter Zunino scored the equalizer in the 39th. Farias converted a penalty kick in the 60th, and clinched the win after a corner kick in the 72nd.

At Colon stadium in Santa Fe, Boca beat the hosts 2-1.

Boca got the advantage with an own goal by defender Horacio Ameli in the 12th, and Rodrigo Palacio made it 2-0 in the 24th. Franco Cangele shortened the lead in the 57th.

In Friday's game, Santiago Biglieri and Cristian Fabbiani scored for Lanus to defeat Newell's 2-1. Nicolas Spolli halved the lead near the end.

On Saturday, Sergio Aguero scored twice in the last 10 minutes and Independiente defeated Velez Sarsfield 2-0. Aguero, 17, is considered a future national team player, though possibly not for this year's World Cup.

Argentine wonderkid Sergio Aguero has revealed his desire to join European Champions Liverpool in the summer.

The 17-year-old attacker is currently at Independiente but has attracted a host of European clubs, with Bayern Munich already signalling their interest in the player.

Aguero, who has been compared with Barclona's Lionel Messi said: "If I had to choose a league then it would be the Premier League. 

"I have been a Liverpool fan for as long as I can remember and it would be a dream to play there. I watched the Champions League final and celebrated every goal as if it was for Independiente," he told German newspaper Munich TZ.

Aguero is under contract with Independiente but is expected to leave them for Europe in the summer with a price-tag of €15million being mentioned.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummennigge has already signalled his intention to make a bid for the player.

"Aguero has great ability and we need to make a move before the Spanish and Italian clubs join the race, otherwise he will be expensive," he said.

"He certainly would not be a snip but for a young player of his quality you sometimes have to be prepared to take a risk."

Referee Rafael Furchi sent the players to the dressing rooms after Leeb appeared to be struck in the face in the 83rd minute. His team were winning 2-1.

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) is expected to meet next week to decide what action to take.

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness is scouring Argentina for the man to fill Michael Ballack's boots and is believed to be focusing on Independiente's 17-year-old Sergio Aguero.

While Germany captain Ballack is yet to confirm he will leave the club when his contract expires this summer, the club is already resigned to losing their talisman and are actively seeking a replacement.

Paraguayan midfielder Julio dos Santos was signed during the winter break, but has yet to make his Bundesliga debut as he takes his time to settle in to the new environment.

That has caused Hoeness to revisit South America to try to find a new goalscoring midfielder, and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed Saturday that he is homing in on his number one target.

"He is watching a player of Independiente Buenos Aires who can play in an attacking midfield position or in attack," Rummenigge told ZDF television, explaining Hoeness' absence from the bench in Duisburg this weekend.

Aguero was on the scoresheet for Independiente this weekend but their game with Banfield was abandoned after 75 minutes when objects were thrown from the crowd and struck Banfield boss Carlos Leeb. Independiente were trailing 2-1 at the time

Teenager Sergio Aguero scored his fourth goal of the Argentine championship as Independiente held River Plate to a 1-1 draw.

The 17-year-old, who many Argentines would like included in the country's World Cup squad, provided a superb finish to Osvaldo Miranda's pass as he flicked the ball past River goalkeeper German Lux in the first minute of the second half. 

Victor Zapata had headed River ahead immediately before halftime.

The draw cost River Plate top spot in the Clausura championship as it was overtaken by archrivals Boca Juniors, who beat Quilmes 3-1.

Daniel Diaz fired Boca ahead from a free kick in the 16th minute and Federico Insua added to the score 11 minutes later with a shot which hit the post and bounced into the net of goalkeeper Jose Ramirez.

Silvio Carrario pulled one back for Quilmes when he caught Boca goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri off his line and lobbed the ball into the goal on the stroke of halftime.

Martin Palermo added Boca's third in the second half.

Boca, under Argentina's 1994 World Cup coach Alfio Basile, has 19 points from nine games, one more than Daniel Passarella's River.

Newell's Old Boys, beaten 2-1 at Estudiantes are a further point behind in third place.