Samuel Eto’o has issued a strong denial that he has met with Rafa Benitez and reiterated his desire to stay at Barcelona, despite continuously being linked with Liverpool and Milan.
The Cameroonian striker is reported to be becoming frustrated with the press in England and Italy repeatedly running stories that he is preparing to move clubs in the summer.
A report in England suggested that Eto’o met with Reds’ boss Benitez for dinner to discuss his future on Monday, but he has stated that he was with his national team.
“It is just a huge lie,” Eto’o’s agent, Jose Maria Mesalles, was quoted in Sport as saying when relaying a message from the player himself.
“Eto’o was in Belgium with the Cameroon squad on Monday night.
“We do not understand why these flase stories keep appearing.
“The club knows all too well that he is very happy at Barcelona and wants to stay.
“He has a very good contract and wants to comply with that.”
Mesalles also dismissed claims that Eto’o would hold secret meetings with any clubs before Barca had been informed of any official interest.
“We are not going to listen to any offers. The club will be the one that receives the offers, we never hear about them first,” the agent said.
Barcelona have made it clear that they want the former Real Madrid and Mallorca forward to stay and are actively looking for a back-up striker to fill the role vacated by Henrik Larsson last summer.
Rumours of a bust-up with Ronaldinho have been exploited to create the reports and Mesalles was keen to repeat that Eto’o does not have any intention of leaving Camp Nou.
“It is clear that he wants to stay,” he added.
“It is not about a club meeting a clause in his contract. Eto’o wants to play for Barça for many eyars to come and that is that.”
