Samuel Eto'o is relishing his new lease of life at Barcelona but believes he has something to prove.
Cameroonian striker enjoying new lease of life at club
Samuel Eto'o is relishing his new lease of life at Barcelona but still believes he has something to prove.
The Cameroonian striker has netted 13 goals in 11 games this season after being kept on by new coach Pep Guardiola.
But it could have all been different as he was on a list to leave the club, along with other big names Ronaldinho and Deco, who did exit the Spanish giants for AC Milan and Chelsea respectively.
Eto'o told
L'Equipe: "I have something to prove. I was on the list to leave because at that time there were some problems within the squad.
"I decided to say how I felt, although that will remain within the club and not be said to the media.
Desperate
"That was when the club thought about selling Ronaldinho, Deco and myself because it was the end of an era. I had had two big injuries and could not fight against time although I was desperate to return.
"This summer I have come back and now I am enjoying playing again.
"A coach is paid to make decisions and Pep (Guardiola) laid out his position. Luckily, or not depending on the case, I carried out pre-season with the club and he realised that some things that had been said were not true."
Eto'o added that he has still not completely recovered from the knee injury he suffered last year and he believes there is more to come from him.
"I am still only at 80 per cent of my physical capabilities, although the injuries are now in the past and I hope that I will not have any more misfortune," he said.
Prudent
"We could win everything this year, but we must remain prudent. The Barca team of 2006, that won the Champions League, had something extra.
"The current side can do big things too, but it is important that we played well from the start as you win nothing at the beginning."
Reports in the Catalan media have suggested that part of Guardiola's new plan has been to randomly ring players to check that they are obeying the midnight midweek curfew, but Eto'o has denied that happens.
"The things about the calls, no it is not - we have children and we are mature people," he said.
"As for the fines, well, if you do not eat with your team-mates after training, I think it is normal to see that as odd. It is those details which are vital," he added.
