New coach Pep Guardiola had said Eto'o was not needed for a fifth season at the Catalan club. However, the Cameroon striker has kept his place in the lineup during the team's tour of Scotland and Barcelona appears no closer to signing Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

"(Eto'o) is someone with a lot of character and we want him to be with us," Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure said Tuesday. "He's going through a difficult moment but he's a very positive person and he's been very professional."

On Monday, club president Joan Laporta left the door open for Eto'o to stay at the Camp Nou with few transfer offers coming in.

"What is certain is that Eto'o has a contract with FC Barcelona ... and he has had a great attitude throughout the preseason," Laporta said. "The physical, motivational and sporting recovery of the player will play a big part in the final decision."

Sporting director Txi Begiristain will make that decision, Laporta added.

Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta have also recently supported the 27-year-old Eto'o.

Barcelona came off a second straight trophyless season to finish third in La Liga - its worse placing for five years