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Barca aims to keep top striker Eto'o

Mon 08 Jun, 08:52 PM


Samuel Eto'o

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Monday he hoped to hold on to Samuel Eto'o despite interest in the Cameroonian striker from some of Europe's top clubs.

"We're trying to find a way in which he can stay," he said after talks between the player's agent, Josep Maria Mesalles, and Barca?s director of football Txiki Begiristain.

That was the message from Messalles too.

"The player is not going to be looking to go. He likes it here and there is no better place to live than Barcelona," he said, but added "we?re not ruling anything out."

Eto'o, the top scorer for Barcelona in the league this season with 30 goals, is under contract with the Catalan side until 2010.

But the 28-year-old has reportedly sparked interest from big-spending English Premier League club Manchester City, French side Lyon and Italy's Inter Milan.

Spanish media have tipped Valencia's David Villa, Atletico Milan's Diego Forlan and Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic as possible replacements for Eto'o.

 

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. thanks aleksander, i appreciate the insight:) im now­ informed. lets pray he stays
    lets hope he becomes the­ seedorf of Barca. money is not a think Eto, you are­ already wealthy
    now the important thing is your­ legacy......

    From Phobia, on Tue 9 Jun 10:00AM

  2. I just wanted 2 let us all know that Eto himself doesnt­ wana go, Barca doesnt wana let him go, he has received­ shytloads of offers thats why it is up 2 Eto if he­ wants 2 leave bcoz next year he can leave as free­ transfer so thats why Barcelona is looking at back up­ options...
    By the way Ive been Barcelona fan 4 about 15­ or so years and i dont want Eto 2 go either but at the­ end of the day Laporta does wateva is best 4 the club i­ mean look the season that went past 18 players from the­ Barca academy that tells u a lot about Barcas­ phylosophy. Eto will always b apart of the Barca family­ so i dont think they want him out of Barcelona... IT IS­ ONLY RUMOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Aleksandar, on Tue 9 Jun 8:34AM

  3. sorry there i meant 1 league cup *not 11.oops

    From Phobia, on Tue 9 Jun 7:18AM

  4. sorry there i meant 1 league cup *not 11.oops

    From Phobia, on Tue 9 Jun 7:18AM

  5. cup of tea, there must be something wrong with your­ comment if everyone rates it so low.
    by the way Eto is­ not overated he has been topscorer in two previous­ African Cup of Nations tournaments.
    secondly, he doesnt­ have to create chances, there are enough people in­ barca to do so., he is the hit man:)
    and well, two­ champions league wins and goals in final., 3 leagus and­ 11 copa!!!! over rated or not, he is among the most­ accomplished strikers in the world!!!

    From Phobia, on Tue 9 Jun 7:17AM

  6. Eto.o is very fast. He's form a formidable trio­ with Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.... with Ribiery­ supporting them! That'll be the bomb for real!

    From Lionel, on Tue 9 Jun 7:10AM

  7. Now I will support Real Madrid and I will follow­ Kaka'career from far away Italy. Ciao Kaka" in­ bocca al lupo!!!

    From dante, on Tue 9 Jun 3:07AM

  8. I cant beleive that Berlusconi sold Kaka! Ricky is a­ great player, a true professional man and also a­ wonderful man as well inside and outside the pitch. The­ AC Milan fans hate Berlusconi and love Kaka'­ people in Recife Brasil repoeted Kaka' had tears in­ his eyes..

    From dante, on Tue 9 Jun 3:03AM

  9. HE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.........HE LOVES FC BARC­ .................EVERYONE LOVES BARCA...........THE­ PASS MASTERS.........MASTERS OF FOOTBALL

    From johnbull, on Tue 9 Jun 1:50AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Eto'o is overrated and his strike rate is­ appalling, and any second-rate striker could have a­ field day at Barcelona with their glorious midfield­ laying everything on a plate.
    He also can't make­ anything for himself unlike Ibra and Villa. I say sell­ him while he's worth something.

    From i am a teacup, on Tue 9 Jun 1:35AM

  11. Atletico Milan's??? Its Atletico Madrid

    From edavids2003, on Tue 9 Jun 12:32AM

  12. I think that Barca should keep Eto. He was one of the­ key players for the championsgip and he has proven his­ loyalty and dedication. Eto is part of our family­ now......Vizca el Barca!

    From marilacson, on Mon 8 Jun 11:45PM

  13. pep u er lucky but let me advice u it will be a big­ mistake to let samu out

    From charles, on Mon 8 Jun 11:12PM

  14. I hate Forlan! Stay at Atletico Milan, you p r i c k!

    From damnsoldja, on Mon 8 Jun 11:02PM

  15. Visca el Barca!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Mon 8 Jun 9:58PM

  16. barca dont let eto to go plsssssssssssssssssssssss

    From Obinna E, on Mon 8 Jun 8:45PM

  17. yea thats right. its madness to let samuel leave

    From Varnavas P, on Mon 8 Jun 7:02PM

  18. yea thats right. its madness to let samuel leave

    From Varnavas P, on Mon 8 Jun 7:02PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    if this is right fu,ck eto and fu,ck
    eto why­ you?????@#$% why @#$%

    From getachew44, on Mon 8 Jun 6:49PM

  20. The best decision Eto'o can make is to leave­ FCBarcelona. The team thinks they cannot count from him­ again. Little minds think just around the nose. We know­ it is foot business and they want to gain something­ from his sale, but I believe Ibra is no match to­ Eto'o. With Eto'o, FCBarcelona is sure of at­ least 20 goals every season. A player that has scored­ 108 goals in 145 matches (5 seasons with 2 practically­ out due to injury) shouldn't be treated like­ someone who manages to be above 15 goals a season.­ Eto'o's departure is sure and FCBarcelona will­ go down the drain. Ask any Man U fan the greatest shock­ he/she had at the Champions League finals. You will­ hear of Eto'o's goal. Arsenal fans will not say­ different at the Paris finals. Pep is just a lucky­ fellow but he could easily become a failure. Just wait­ and see

    From Kalou H., on Mon 8 Jun 6:12PM
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