Barca need to make up their mind on Eto'o says agent

Barcelona have to make up their mind whether to keep Samuel Eto'o or to sell him, the Cameroon striker's agent told a news conference yesterday.

"The player wants to stay and complete the last year of his contract," Jose Maria Mesalles said.

"If Barca don't want him they should say so, so we can pursue the player's future in a professional manner. The club said coach Pep Guardiola did not want him. Guardiola has not told the player he is not required."

Eto'o has a contract with Barca until 2010, but Mesalles said he did not receive an offer of an extension until almost midnight on Monday when the European champions offered him a two-year extension until 2012, on the same salary.

He accused Barca of leaking stories to the media that cast Eto'o in a bad light and said that if the club had reached an agreement with Manchester City to sell him, Eto'o would be happy negotiate.

"If they have a serious offer from Manchester City, and if they want to continue with this negotiation we could be interested," Mesalles added.

Speculation over Eto'o's future escalated over the weekend when Barca president Joan Laporta said that Eto'o had received a 'stratospheric offer' from another club that would make him the best-paid player in the world.

Media have reported that Manchester City are offering Eto'o a five-year contract, and Barca a transfer fee of €25 million.