Manchester City have finally ended their interest in Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o.
The Cameroon star's future at the Nou Camp had been under increased speculation after the Spanish champions revealed Eto'o did not figure in the club's plans. Barca's president Joan Laporta then revealed the club had received a 'stratospheric bid' for the striker before offering him a two year extension on his contract.
The blues had given Eto'o and his agent 24 hours to make up his mind whether to accept the contract or join the club and, true to their word, the blues have pulled the plug on any potential deal. "The circumstances surrounding him were such that a deal couldn't be completed," chief executive Gary Cooke says.
City will now turn their attention to securing the signature of Argentine striker Carlos Tevez, whose transfer will be closely scrutinized by the FA. The deal is bogged down in red tape surrounding the player's third party ownership and the FA are adamant that any transfer will mean outright ownership of the player by the club.