Samuel Eto`o could well sign for Barca within the next few hours, if Real Madrid, who own registration rights, do not take up their option, which Joan Laporta explained, run out today.
According to Club President Joan Laporta: "our understanding was that there was just a week for Madrid to make their wishes known and if Mallorca informed them of our offer on 3rd August and we hear nothing from Madrid, then Eto`o will be a Barca player-Mallorca and ourselves have agreed a deal".
Private conditions
Joan Laporta continued: "it appears that Real Madrid wish to see the personal terms we`ve agreed with the player, but they are part of our working conditions with him and do not have anything to do with the registration rights, which are a purely sporting matter, referring to the player`s registration with the federation. Those rights belong to Mallorca and we have made an offer to buy them
Madridhave an earlier agreement for first refusal on the player, which they have to exercise before 10th August. If they want him, they`ll have to reach an agreement with him and offer him guarantees, which as he`s a non-EEC player, only Barca can actually give him".
Defending Barca`s interests
The President reiterated that the player had already expressed his wish to join the club, but also stressed that he didn`t want to create any polemic between Barca and Madrid: "as far as we`re concerned, this is between us and Mallorca. We have to respect the fact that the player has collateral arrangements with another club, but our aim isn`t to get involved in any fight with Madrid or anybody that`s not our way of behaving. We`ll carry on as always defending this club`s interests and working to get as competitive a team as possible. I think we`re building a strong squad and I know the manager is satisfied with what he`s got".
