Eto'o wants Barca stay

Eto'o has had a stop-start season on account of an injury and there was a much-publicised spat between him, Ronaldinho and boss Frank Rijkaard over a misunderstanding regarding his return, leading to speculation that he would leave for Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea in the summer.

But the Cameroon international striker has insisted that he has no plans to quit and will only do so if he is deemed surplus to requirements by the people who pay his wages - the season-ticket holders.

"I will only leave when the fans tell me to," he told Sport. "I have three sets of fans close to my heart. First it is Cameroon, then Mallorca and third Barcelona.

"Today I give everything to Barca's fans and the day that I can't give all that they want from me, I will go; and if they believe that I can't give what they want from me, I am happy to sit and talk to those who pay my wages - the fans - and they must say what they think.

"If I want to go I will speak to the club first."

He also denied that he and Brazil star Ronaldinho could no longer play in the same team together, after the former Gremio and PSG man implied that Eto'o was not thinking of the team when he refused to come on as a substitute late in a match following his recovery from the serious knee injury.

"Ronaldinho plays for Barca like I do," he declared. "Who wants a war? I defend him like I defend my children. If you attack Ronaldinho you cannot support me.

"There are people out there talking nonsense to try and create some kind of fight between the stars. They are idiots and I will say it to their faces."

Barcelona currently lead La Liga but inconsistent form since the New Year has seen their advantage cut to only two points by Real Madrid.