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Eto´o back in Barcelona squad
MADRID (AFP) - Cameroon international forward Samuel Eto'o is back in Barcelona's squad to face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, the club said Saturday.
Eto'o was recently involved in a bitter row with his Dutch coach at Barca Frank Rijkaard after the latter claimed the striker had refused to come on as a substitute against Racing Santander on February 11.
Since then Eto'o has not even featured in the squad but is now set to be recalled to the fold.
"Eto'o told me after the last training session that he is ready to play," said Rijkaard. "That means he feels he is ready to help the team and that is why he is part of the squad."
Eto'o did not just have a bust up with his coach but also exchanged words with his Brazilian strike partner Ronaldinho after both criticised him for not wanting to take to the field.
He denied he had refused to come on but then declared himself unavailable for selection in Barca's next two games, a 2-1 defeat at Valencia last weekend and a loss by the same score at home to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
He had been out for several months with a knee injury and said he was not yet fully fit.
He did make a brief appearance on February 4 against Osasuna before the row began with Rijkaard in Barca's next match.
Gianluca Zambrotta and Juliano Belletti are both out injured while Mexican Rafael Marquez is left out.
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