EXCLUSIVE: My Relationship And My Love For Samuel Eto'o Still Exists - Barcelona Chief Joan Laporta

And depending on the circumstances, fans respond accordingly. For instance, whenever Sol Campbell returned to White Hart Lane in the colours of Arsenal, he was greeted with shameful hatred by Spurs fans, who always regarded his move across North London as the utmost example of treachery. In Spain the Catalans reserved all their bile for Luis Figo when he came back to the Camp Nou, for the first time, in the all white of Real Madrid way back in Florentino Perez's first term in charge of Los Blancos.

On Tuesday, the football fraternity will have another chance to gauge the cules' reaction when another of their former heroes return to the club where he had his most successful stint.

Samuel Eto'o achieved in five years at Barcelona what many footballers can only dream about in a lifetime's career. Three La Liga titles, two Champions League crowns - for which he scored in both finals - the Copa del Rey, European Super Cup, and the Pichichi award for Liga top scorer on one occasion while being a runner up on a further two.

His ultimate exit from the Camp Nou, however, was as confusing as it was surprising. Coach Pep Guardiola eventually decided on a “feeling” that the player had to go. He wanted to bring in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The club meanwhile were in the throes of negotiations with the player's agent in order to extend his contract which was due to run out in 2010.

From there, the trail branches out into a myriad of paths all of which led to one outcome: the departure of the Indomitable Lion. Club president Joan Laporta felt he was let down by Eto'o's team who were demanding too much and were turning the saga into a media story, while Eto'o for his part claimed he asked nothing of the club and was let down by the manner in which he was eventually exchanged. The rift further developed when Eto'o and Barcelona fell out over the transfer commission that was owed to the player for his move to Inter.

But more than Guardiola, with whom Eto'o only spent one season, it was with Laporta, that 'Samu' had always shared a direct and a personal relationship with. And despite the fall out between the two, in an honest and open interview with Goal.com's Ashish Sharma, Joan Laporta continues to have nothing but admiration for the former striker.

“I am delighted to have Samuel Eto'o again in the Nou Camp, because he knows that Barcelona the football club and Barcelona the city is his home. We will receive him with honours because he has been one of the best players in the history of Barcelona. He has been a good striker maybe the best striker we have ever had in our history and I appreciate him very much.”

Asked whether Laporta feels that special relationship he had enjoyed with Eto'o could ever be repaired, the club president has little doubt.

“Of course. To me my relationship and my love for Samuel Eto'o still exists. But you know sometimes in football there are circumstances where you have to take some decisions which personally are very hard decisions, but professionally you have to take them. And this is what happened. But I would like to remember Samuel as a friend which is how I remember him.”

Considering how karma and football always go hand in hand, it would come as no surprise to anyone if Eto'o scored a crucial winning goal for Inter in the dying seconds of injury time to complicate Barcelona's passage out of the group stages of the Champions League. So, is that a nightmare scenario for Laporta?

“No no, I don't have nightmares; I have dreams.” Laporta laughs. “And I imagine that a player like Ibrahimovic or Messi [who has since been injured and is looking unlikely to play] will also score the goals in order for us to win the match,” he continued.

But while he hopes that one of his big stars will rise to the occasion and see his team through, Laporta accepts that Europe this season has proved to be a stern test.

One reason for this may well be that of all the groups, this is the only one comprised of four teams who were actual winners of their respective domestic leagues. In a sense its the truest Champions League group. But despite the precarious position Barcelona find themselves in, lying third with two games to go, Laporta exudes confidence in what they can still achieve.

“Yes we are in a very difficult position but it depends on us if we secure qualification. We have Inter at home now and then we are away in Kiev to play Dynamo. Its not going to be easy as both of them are very strong.

“But I have a lot of trust in my team. I think playing at home against Inter it's clear that we will to have to show our best football and I am sure that the players will do their best in order to win this match.”

That faith is going to be needed not only in the players but also in the coach, Guardiola. After Sunday's draw at Athletic Bilbao, Barca have relinquished top spot to Real Madrid in La Liga. Several players are still out with swine flu, Ibrahimovic is under an injury cloud and now there are doubts over Messi after he suffered a leg injury at San Mames.

With Real Madrid to follow Inter, the next seven days may well go a long way to showing just how well Barca are doing without Samuel Eto'o.

Ashish Sharma, Goal.com