Seems like a game of public brinksmanship between Eto'o and Barca (played out whilst trying to save face in front of the fans) to me, leaving us sat in the middle with very little to do until they sort it out:
1. We make an offer, which Barca are desperate to push through as they need the money to spend elsewhere. They want to push Eto'o through the door, so go public with it saying its a ridiculous offer which he can't refuse even though he loves the club and wants to stay and all that crap - thinking its such a good offer he's surely going to go for it, thus forfeiting his loyalty bonus and handing Barca the whole transfer fee. Barca win
2. Eto'o thinks 'fook this, I want that loyalty bonus if I am going to go', so he states that despite the fantastic offer actually he wants to stay at Barca and see out his contract (entitling him to leave on a free next summer). He knows this is the worst possible outcome for Barca, and is something they'll never allow to happen. He knows they'll have to push him out if they want the deal that badly, therefore entitling him to the loyalty bonus for not asking to leave. Eto'o wins
3. Barca call his bluff in front of the fans, saying 'great - you want to stay - sign this contract extension then' - this would take him up to 30 on the same wage he's on now, which I can't see him going for. He would therefore be almost publically admitting he didn't want to stay at Barca by not signing. Barca win again
4. Next move Eto'o
This could go on and on, and City have to either jump in and come to an agreement about reimbursing Eto'o for his 'loyalty' to Barca, or fook em all off and walk away from the deal - can't see it being sorted any time soon, so we might as well stop getting stressed about it, sit back and see how it pans out!
