Samuel Eto'o: I Have No Intention Of Leaving Barcelona

Samuel Eto'o has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving Barcelona this summer and claimed that the Catalans have the best attacking force in the world.

The Cameroonian international has been at the heart of Barcelona's brilliant form this season and is their current top-scorer in La Primera.

"If you were playing in this Barcelona team, the way it is playing, would you want to leave for anywhere else in the world?"

"If you think about that question logically, you will get your answer. But just to be clear, I have no intention of leaving.

"For me, we have the best attacking force in world football. It is an honour to play in this team with so much talent. I have been very pleased with my own scoring form this season but it remains that I could not reach the levels I do without so much talent around me.

"The service I get is exceptional and we play with no fear. Some of the players in Barcelona’s attack will go down in football history and sometimes you need to take a minute and have a think about just how special this team is."

"People will still be talking about him in 50 years, saying, 'I once saw Messi play', and that 'he was the greatest player I have ever seen', of that I am sure.

"Some of the things you see him do in training and on the pitch just make you stand back and wonder how it is possible. But he does not conduct himself as if he is the best player in the world.

"He is very humble and just wants to play football and maybe he even gets a little bit shy when people say such great things about him."

English Dominance

Both Messi and Eto'o have been key this season in leading Barcelona to the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they now face Chelsea.

Eto'o says that he is not surprised by the dominance of English clubs in the competition but insists that it will not last forever.

"I don’t think there is much doubt over the last two or three years, the power of European football has been in England," he explained.

"But for me that is not strange. The power shifts every few years to one of the major leagues in Europe and this is England’s turn.We have seen Juventus and Milan dominate, then us and Madrid, so it is no shock for me that now it is England’s turn. It will not last for ever, though. These things shift to another country."

The striker also singled out the English teams for individual praise, especially Arsenal, who he believes are like Barcelona in some respects.

"All of the English clubs left in the competition have players who are capable of winning matches against any team in the world. Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all have players who would have a chance of making any team in the world, that is why English clubs have done so well," he declared.

"We are all aware of Manchester United," he continued. 

"Like us, they are a great team and they will be looking to prove themselves No 1 in Europe again this season, much like we will be. Chelsea are very organised and a very tough team to play. They have a great work attitude and you know to expect a very tough game."

"Arsenal are very young and maybe the least experienced but when things go right for them, they are one of the best teams in Europe to watch and are similar to us in that respect. Every team left will have the belief they can win the European Cup this season."

At the moment Barcelona are the favourites for the title, though, and Eto'o admits that they think they have the ability to lift the trophy.

"We believe we have the ability to win the European Cup but, at the same time, we understand how hard it will be. The English teams are all very strong and they will make things very difficult for us. We will approach every game giving the teams respect but, at the same time, believing we will have victory if we perform well," he concluded.

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com