Eto'o receives stratospheric offer from City
Eto'o scored the opener in this season's Champions League final
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Sunday, 28, Jun 2009 09:28
Barcelona president Joan Laporta says Manchester City have made an offer to striker Samuel Eto'o that would make him the highest paid footballer in the world.
Laporta claims the deal would eclipse the ones signed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka at Real Madrid and could be too good to turn down.
Eto'o has been reluctant to leave Barca despite only having one more season left to run on his current deal and City reportedly offering big wages.
Until now City's interest was well known but no official approach had been made.
However, Laporta says it is clear the Premier League side will do everything they can to land La Liga's top goalscorer from last season.
The Barca president told Catalan radio station iCat FM: "Eto'o has a stratospheric offer from City, which would convert him into the best paid player in the world.
"It's starting to become clear that he has this monster offer. He wants to stay but an offer like this is very difficult to refuse."
Laporta calmed Barca fans by declaring the club would bring in a direct replacement for the 28-year-old Cameroon international.
He added: "If Eto'o accepts this stratospheric offer we will have to bring in someone."
Barca have been linked with a move for Valencia's David Villa who is also a target for Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool but is known to want to stay in Spain.
Eto'o would be City's second major strike signing of the summer after they landed Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers for £18 million.
City are also expected to sign Carlos Tevez in July for £25 million.