Real Madrid accept Barcelona's Eto'o offer

Real Madrid have accepted Barcelona's offer for striker Samuel Eto'o.

Talks were held on Wednesday evening between Real, Barca and Real Mallorca over Eto'o and the offer of £16 million was agreed by all three clubs.

Real wanted to wait until Friday to decide if they would accept selling the Cameroon ace, but Barca president Joan Laporta struck an agreement over the phone with Real counterpart Florentino Perez as he flew back from Poland yesterday.

Real and Mallorca, courtesy of their co-ownership of Eto'o, will receive £8 million each for the African. The fee could rise to £18 million depending on how Barca choose to stagger the payments.

In an open letter to Barcelona fans published in a local newspaper, Eto'o wrote: "Barca is my great gamble. I know that you are hoping for me and I have the desire to be with you. I burn with desire to see this absurd situation end as quickly as possible."

"A long time ago I have wanted to be defending the shirt of Barça. A club that I do not want to return to, because they do not trust me, is trying to close the doors on my future."

"I want to fight, to participate and to win many titles with Barça."