Liverpool's Manager, Rafa Benitez may have quietly backed down on a move to sign highly rated Barcelona star, Samuel Eto'o.



Strong indications, suggest that Liverpool have dropped out of the race to obtain Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o after deciding the strike ace is beyond their reach. For weeks, Liverpool have been at the forefront of the Eto'o bid and tabled a cash offer for the forward who has been highly sought after in Europe. The offer received no tangible response from Barcelona.


News of this cash offer echoed across Europe and attracted Italian giants, AC Milan, who are also interested in the Barca marksman. This made Milan swing into action in response to the English move, digging in through their official, Galliani in the famed Mission Impossible adventure. Barcelona classified Galliani's bid method as a distraction.


Liverpool have been more visible than other Premiership teams in their attempts to win over the Cameroonian from Cam Nou. Other Premiership clubs intrested in Eto'o are Manchester United and Arsenal. AC Milan and InterMilan are representing interests from the Italian angle.


Liverpool's decision to back down may be influenced by the mindset which is gaining ground at Camp Nou to tighten its hold on players it considers pre-requisites to its success next season, and attempts are being made to solidfy the squad especially after the shocking result in the weekend La Liga encounter with Espanyol lent more concrete on the need to have a more secure team.


A big and unlikely IF hangs on the possibilty of Barcelona even agreeing in the first place to sell their attacking gem.


Other than Barca's organisational drive, Liverpool's exit may also be attributed to cashflow. The lords at Anfield may be too constrained to disburse Eto'o's real worth, which is no doubt ranging upwards from the 50 Million Euro mark.


As proof of this, Liverpool have considered signing Villareal's former Man U player, Diego Forlan as an alternative to Eto'o.