Rijkaard: Eto'o going nowhere

Saturday, 18, Mar 2006 10:45

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has denied further speculation linking striker Samuel Eto'o with a move to Chelsea in the summer.

African Footballer of the Year Eto'o was reportedly the subject of a £50m bid from the West Londoners recently.

However, the Catalan giants have insisted that the Cameroon international, regarded as one of the best forwards in the world, is going nowhere.

"The club has no intention of selling as good a player as Eto'o and he is very happy at Barca and has said nothing to me about wanting to leave," Rijkaard said.

"Most of the players get along well because we have built up such a good atmosphere and that makes us confident that they aren't going to want to change to a different club."

With speculation regarding the possible arrival of Arsenal captain Thierry Henry in the summer, Barcelona will have plenty of attacking options and some pundits believe that Eto'o could move on with Henry filling his place.

However, the club's top goalscorer will not leave the club according to the Dutchman, regardless of whether Chelsea want him or not.

Eto'o also stated earlier this week that he was happy at the Nou Camp and said that the money being talked about to secure his services was crazy.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said publicly that Eto'o was not for sale, saying 'all the gold in the world' couldn't prise him away.