[Mighty T.A.L.]

Eto'o in Barca quit shock

SAMUEL ETO’O has dropped a bombshell — by threatening to quit Barcelona.

The superstar striker has grown frustrated by the Catalan giants’ poor results this season.

Another year of underachievement was underlined by Saturday’s 0-0 draw against old rivals Espanyol at the Nou Camp.

And Eto’o said: “If next year we continue like that, I will leave.

"I want to win titles and if I can’t do it here then it will be in another club.

“But in Spain my cycle has finished. I have touched the ceiling in Barcelona so if I leave I will go abroad. I will go to whoever pays the most.”

That announcement, ahead of Barca’s Champions League semi-final clash with Manchester United on Wednesday, will put Chelsea on red alert as they have long wanted the Cameroon superstar. Eto’o has a point.

The creaking Catalans have won just one out of EIGHT games in La Liga and have not scored at home in three. They are third in La Liga, 11 points behind Real Madrid.

Add the sad saga involving their greatest player, Ronaldinho, looking to leave and the angry mob calling for president Joan Laporta’s head and you have an explosive mix.

Insecurity and uncertainty surround the famous Nou Camp. And midfield maestro Andres Iniesta admitted yesterday that defeat to United would be a horror show.

He said: “Losing to United could be a disaster and a massive disappointment.”

Yet Eto’o openly disagreed with his team-mate and insisted Barcelona WILL dump United out of Europe.

He said: “Andres had his reasons to say it but I don’t think that it would be a disaster to lose against United. We’re not at that stage and I am sure we will win and go through to the final in Moscow.”

Eto’o is puzzled by star-studded Barca’s frustrating season but warned they will be up for the game against United.

He added: “What has caused this dip in form? I ask myself that question. Football reflects life. Sometimes things happen to you that you cannot explain.

“With all the players we have we draw or lose some games without understanding why. There is no explanation.

“In the Champions League, though, we feel well. We’re just three games away from being able to lift the trophy with the big ears.

“It’s the game of the season for us. United are favourites but we must prove we’re better than them. We will not be lacking desire or character.”

There is one source of optimism for Barcelona — the return of Argie ace Leo Messi. Eto’o added: “We have recovered a key player in Messi but he alone cannot win the game. All of us must play well.

“We don’t fear United. We have respect for them — as I hope they do for us.

“Before any other team our problem is Barca itself. If we play at our level we will give them problems. We’re in the semi-finals of the Champions League and there’s no bigger motivation than that.”

Striker Eidur Gudjohnsen claimed United are SCARED of Barcelona.

The former Chelsea hitman also revealed he snubbed a move to Old Trafford when he left Stamford Bridge for the Catalan capital.

Gudjohnsen, 29, said: “I wanted to be facing United because they are a team that always wants to play football and leaves more open spaces to their opponent than others.

“Liverpool or Chelsea, for example, are stronger physically and without as much quality but they play defensively, are compact and leave no space. I prefer one of them in the final.

“But Manchester know our quality and are afraid of us.

“I think they will be two good games for football in general because both teams have a high level.”

Bizarrely, the Iceland ace also took a swipe at Old Trafford’s nickname.

He added: “Old Trafford is a big stadium and a good one — but to call it the Theatre of Dreams, maybe it’s a bit exaggerated.

“Before I came to Barca, United were interested in signing me on a couple of occasions.

“It’s a great honour that Alex Ferguson wanted me because he’s a living legend, someone special who’s done incredible things. But when they told me Barcelona were interested in me they were always my first option.”

Source: The Sun