Transfer Talk: Barca's Striker Issue

We're laying down the cards, once and for all, as we try and make sense of the issue that's causing so much commotion in the world of FC Barcelona.

What is going on in regards to the club's striker? Is Eto'o leaving to Man City? Is he renewing his contract? Does he want to leave? Do the club wish to let him go? Will Villa come to Barca and replace him? Or can they two stay on the club together?

We've been following these stories like mad, and we offer you our take on it all...

There was a press conference earlier today between the club and Eto'o's agent, where all hell broke loose. The agent claims that Eto'o never wished to leave Barca, but that the club themselves want him to go, so they have been spreading lies to the press making Eto'o look greedy, fabricating that there was an offer from Manchester City to put more pressure on him to leave.

He says and we quote: "Barcelona played a double game by using the media to damage the image of Eto'o and to come out as the good ones."

"The club has been speaking with a double tongue and has been misleading the fans, using the media and twisting facts."

Frankly, we don't much believe him. The Barcelona board are a bunch of evil liers out to get Eto'o, ruin him and make a nice profit off of him, are they? Sure, and Real Madrid are winning the Champions League next season. He's gone too far saying such things about the club, this mess has gotten way out of hand.

Anyway, the club responded to this lashing out from the agent, releasing a statement on the official site: "FC Barcelona are awaiting a response from Samuel Eto'o to their offer of a two-year contract extension. The contract would give the Cameroon striker two more years at the club, whilst maintaining the same salary."

Quite decent of them, too. This goes against all that the club was accused of, proving that Eto'o is indeed welcome to stay, with the same salary we're sure he's been happy with and which is quite as much as he deserves. And if Eto'o really does want to stay and doesn't care for the money, as his agent claims, then they will take this offer, no questions asked.

Or, if the agent is not going to live up to his words, then Manchester City are waiting with open arms. Eto'o will be welcomed, he'll be lavished with cash, he'll have the spotlight all to himself. What's to complain about? Is he going to throw at us that he's too in love with Barca? Ah, but we've heard from him time and again that he considers his playing to be "just a job" and that Barca never was, or ever will be, his heart's club. Okay then Samu, do what you like. And can we recommend something? Find yourself a new agent.

The question remains: What decision will Eto'o (or his agent, because it looks like he's the one mouthing off and stirring everything up) actually take? We can't say, but we'll tell you this: Rumor has it that Eto'o has already found a house in Manchester, nearby City's training ground too. He would be renting the Georgian style mansion, complete with private pool and gym, for around 300,000 euros a year - if that's true, then he must have the intention of going to Man City.

Then of course, we must take into consideration that what happens with Eto'o greatly affects the club's attempts to sign David Villa. Barca defender Gerard Pique, for one, believes that Eto'o and Villa would be able to play together on Barca. Sorry Geri darling, but as much as we wish that could be, we really don't see it happening. It will be worse than when the club signed Henry and claimed that fielding him wouldn't affect Ronaldinho. If Villa is to come, Eto'o must leave. They play the same position, and both are such huge stars, and great goal scorers, you simply can't trump one for the other.

But how close is Villa to signing for Barca? Catalan newspaper Sport reports that they have spoken with Villa, and he assures them that he is pressing his agent to convince Valencia president Manuel Llorente to let him depart to Barcelona. We really hope that's so; having Villa on our club would be simply incredible, on so many levels.

Now though, all we can do is wait to see how things will turn out. We sincerely hope this will all be cleared up soon, and Barca's striker issue will be settled.