Samuel Eto’o is delighted that ‘my son’ Lionel Messi will stay, but warned Barcelona still need another eight players with the ‘tiki-taka’ style.
Messi will stay put at Barcelona for at least one more season until his contract expires in June 2021. He’ll then be able to leave the club as a free agent, with nothing to stand in his way.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to training on Monday at the Joan Gamper Ciutat Esportiva, arriving earlier than the rest of the squad to likely hold talks with new coach Ronald Koeman.
But while remaining at Camp Nou was against his former teammate’s wishes, Eto’o acknowledged his presence, along with ideally several new signings, is vital for Barcelona.
“I am really happy that my ‘son’ Messi has stayed,” said Eto’o as quoted on Diario Sport.
“But Barça, beyond Messi, need eight players in the Barça style, with tiki-taka, and not box to box players.”
Leo #Messi begins preseason training. pic.twitter.com/ygPNpWzjkb
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 7, 2020
The Cameroonian also hopes to see another former Barcelona teammate of his in Sergio Busquets in form for the new LaLiga season.
“[I want him to] return to his best level because when he’s on it, Barca always win titles and last season he wasn’t,” Eto’o said on ‘Busi’.
After surrendering their LaLiga crown to rivals Real Madrid last season, Barcelona hope to make amends this term.
“I am going to speak about the next champions, that will be Barca,” added Eto’o on the upcoming league campaign in Spain.
“But more than anything, I want the club of my heart, Mallorca, to get back in the top flight.
“I am also going to keep an eye on Real Betis with a top-level coach (Manuel Pellegrini) who is back in the best league in the world.”
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