Eto´o transfer in doubt over bonus demand: press

Samuel Eto’o is demanding a “transfer bonus” of 15 million euros from Barcelona to sign for Manchester City, which could scupper any deal for the Cameroon striker, Spanish media said on Monday.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said at the weekend that Eto’o had received a “stratospheric” offer from a foreign club, later identified as Manchester City, who are ready to pay 30 million euros to Barca plus 10 million a year in salary.

But Catalan sporting dailies Sport and Mundo Deportivo said Eto’o, whose contract with Barca ends in 2010, is demanding a “transfer bonus” of 15 million euros, something the Spanish club will not accept.

The player’s agent, Josep Maria Mesalles, called a news conference for Tuesday to clarify the situation surrounding Eto’o, who could now stay on at the Spanish and European champions, said Mundo Deportivo.

Laporta has publicly said he wants the 28-year-old, the club’s top scorer last season, to remain.

But the Cameroonian has not been offered an extension to his contract, and Spanish media said the Catalan club would prefer to sell him in order to buy other players, such as Valencia striker David Villa.