Rijkaard denies he is planning to quit Barcelona

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said yesterday he is not planning to quit the European and Spanish champions at the end of the season.

Spanish media had reported that political in-fighting at the Catalan club had convinced the Dutchman to bring his time at Barcelona to an end.

"I have looked into the future... and it says, yes," Rijkaard told a news conference, as he made light of a question on whether he would be at Barcelona next year.

"I have never said I was going to leave. I am happy here, and it is an honour to work here. But it is a bit much to say that I will be here many years because I know how football works. My intention is to stay."

Meanwhile, Rijkaard yesterday said that Cameroon forward Eto'o was left out of the Barcelona squad to visit Valencia in the Primera Liga today at the player's own request.

"Eto'o has told me he feels his fitness is improving but that he would prefer to stay in Barcelona to continue working to achieve his peak form," Rijkaard said.

The Cameroon international stirred up controversy during the week by criticising Rijkaard and team mate Ronaldinho.

Eto'o's outburst came after the Dutchman said he had refused to come on as a substitute in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Racing Santander.

He also made a thinly-veiled criticism of Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho, who had suggested Eto'o should put the interests of the team before his own.

The matter was smoothed over on Wednesday with Eto'o making a public display of reconciliation with Ronaldinho, while Rijkaard and the club decided against taking punitive action for the incident.