Manchester City representatives met up with their Barcelona counterparts last night regarding the possible transfer of Cameroonian international striker Samuel Eto’o for an estimated £40M.
Manchester City and Barcelona officials met on Monday and discussed the possible transfer of Samuel Eto’o to Eastlands, BBC Sport understands.
Although it was billed as a contact-building exercise, the chance of a deal for the striker formed part of their discussions. The 28-year-old was transfer-listed by Barcelona last season but has hit top form under new boss Pep Guardiola.
Eto’o has given no indication he would be willing to leave the Catalan giants. In February, he had said that he wanted to stay at Barcelona beyond the end of his contract in 2010. His statement, to local TV station Canal Catala, was: “Of course I want to continue, I’m very happy and see no reason to leave. I’m going to stay to the end of my contract and if the club want me, I would like to stay longer.”
Manchester City certainly have the ambition and financial clout to lure the likes of Eto’o since their takeover last September by the Abu Dhabi United Group, backed by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
But the club will not figure in next season’s Champions League and are by no means guaranteed a place in the new Europa League.
Officials are also likely to tread carefully in any fresh transfer bids for big-name players following the acrimony over their failed move for AC Milan’s Kaka.
Manchester City’s executive chairman Garry Cook was criticised after accusing Milan of “bottling” a £100m deal for the Brazilian star.
Eto’o is the record goalscorer for the Cameroon national team, finding the net 37 times in 80 apperances.
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