FC Bayern München midfielder Martin Demichelis has extended his contract with the German champions, signing a new deal tying him to the club until the summer of 2010.

'Important player'
"Martin has become a very important player for us in recent months and we are happy he has signed a long-term deal," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. The 24-year-old Argentinian, who had been under contract till 2007, struggled to adapt to the Bundesliga in his first season at the club in 2003/04. However, he has become a key figure since switching from central defence to a holding midfield role.

Hargreaves example
Demichelis has missed four Bundesliga matches through injury this term but is a regular when fit. He has also appeared in all four of Bayern's UEFA Champions League ties, scoring in the 2-1 win against Juventus in Munich on 18 October. Demichelis follows the lead set by English international Owen Hargreaves who prolonged his Bayern contract to 2010 last month.