Barcelona president Joan Laporta is delighted with the free-scoring form of striker Samuel Eto'o.

The Cameroon international came close to quitting Barca in the summer, but Laporta says: "We had the belief that Eto'o would continue with Barca and I hope he continues for many more years, because he is a player who, above all, is grateful to be here.

"He is also very committed to the institution and the club, and has a spirit of overcoming and singular ambition.

"I have not thought about what would have happened without Eto'o because we always believed that he was the best striker on the market. I knew the coach (Pep Guardiola) would accept him once he saw how he trained."