Barca close in on Inter star Ibramovic by offering £35m plus Man City reject Eto'o

17 July 2009 10:24
Samuel Eto'o is finally set to leave Barcelona as part of a deal to take Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Nou Camp. The European champions, desperate to make an impact signing after a summer of disappointments in the transfer market, are ready to offer about £35million plus Eto'o for the Inter Milan striker. The deal would also include former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb moving to the San Siro on season-long loan. Inter president Massimo Moratti confirmed there had been talks with his Barca counterpart Joan Laporta. 'It was interesting for them (Barcelona) to know something about Ibrahimovic, and talk about Eto'o, two players of the same quality,' said Moratti. 'We are trying to see if it is possible to enter both players in a deal. This meeting was something that is born out of the friendship between two presidents, who are trying to figure out if there is a possibility that we can work together.' Manchester City had spent the summer in pursuit of Eto'o and were prepared to make him the best-paid player in the world until they finally became tired of waiting for a response from him last Friday. Eto'o was preparing to leave Barca for nothing at the end of his contract next summer, but Barca wanted to cash in now. The Cameroon striker's representatives had tried to attract interest from Manchester United and AC Milan, but have finally attracted interest from a Champions League club in the shape of Inter. Ibrahimovic, who had been linked to Chelsea and United by some newspapers, is keen to test himself at a higher level and Barca have used their healthy relationship with Inter to push ahead with the deal. The Catalans have already agreed to sign left-back Maxwell from the Italians for £3.9m this week. Moratti added: 'With regards to Ibrahimovic I think it's an issue that has arisen because of the wishes of the player. 'We've completed Maxwell's transfer. I'm happy he is going to play at a big club like Barcelona because he is a great player. Now we are trying to complete Hleb's transfer.'

Source: Daily_Mail