Eto’o eyes new Barcelona deal

(GETTY IMAGES)

Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o has dampened down speculation about his Barcelona future by insisting he wants to stay at the Camp Nou.

The 27-year-old striker’s Barca contract expires at the end of next season and he has been linked with a move since last summer.

However, Eto’o said: “I have been here for five years now and last summer was the worst experience I had.

“I accepted the club’s decision to sell me but I really wanted to stay and become an important part of the team.

“I will fulfil my contract until 2010 but I wish to remain at the club beyond that. I will fight for this club until they no longer need me to.

“It is clear that I want to stay at Barcelona. I have grown to love it and I want all the clues to feel that I exude the spirit of Barca. I feel loved and appreciated here.”

Meanwhile, Julien Faubert is beginning to doubt whether his loan switch from West Ham United to Real Madrid will become permanent in the summer.

The Frenchman has made only one substitute appearance for Real since joining the club during the January transfer window.

“It’s very hard to live like this because no one at the club tells me why I am not playing, and I don’t know who to go to to enquire about it,” he told L’Equipe.

“I have to play in order to adapt. My team-mates are already understanding my game more and more.

“They know I like to have open spaces. I also believe that I have improved technically and physically.”