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MADRID, Aug 11 (Reuters) - African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o says he is determined to move from Real Mallorca to Barcelona and has attacked Real Madrid for trying to scupper the proposed deal.
In a letter published in the Sport newspaper on Wednesday, Eto'o, who is co-owned by Real Mallorca and Real Madrid, assured Barcelona fans that he would be joining in the near future.


'Today I feel like a Barcelona player,' said the 23-year-old Cameroon striker. 'For reasons that have nothing to do with me the deal has been delayed for a few days, but don't worry because joining Barca is still my overwhelming desire.'

Barcelona are reported to have offered 22 million euros ($27.01 million) for the striker, but Real Madrid have yet to decide whether to accept a 50 percent share of the fee or to exercise their option to buy out the player's contract in full.

Madrid-based sports papers Marca and AS have both reported that Real are keen to use Eto'o as part of a deal to sign Liverpool striker Michael Owen.

But Eto'o said he had no intention of returning to the Bernabeu and accused the club of trying to prevent him joining arch-rivals Barcelona.

'For some time I have wanted to wear the Barcelona shirt and help them in their pre-season preparations,' he said. 'Up until now that hasn't been possible because of the continual obstacles that have been placed in my path by a club that you all know well, a club that I don't want to return to because they never showed any faith in me and are now blocking my future progress.'

Real are reported to have until Friday to settle on their course of action.

'There is still time to decide if we will use our option on the player,' Real sporting director Emilio Butragueno was quoted as saying by Sport.

'We are thinking over what to do, but whatever decision we make it will be the best one for Real Madrid.'