Barcelona to hold meeting after Eto'o outburst

MADRID, Feb 14 (Reuters) Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and sporting director Txiki Begiristain will meet today to discuss Samuel Eto'o's public criticism of the Dutch manager and Brazil team mate Ronaldinho.

''Rijkaard and Txiki Begiristain will analyse the situation and take the measures that they consider appropriate,'' said the club's communications director Jordi Badia.

An angry Eto'o hit out at Rijkaard on Monday after the Dutchman said he had refused to come on as a late substitute in Sunday's 2-0 victory at home to Racing Santander.

''Telling a news conference that I didn't want to play is the behaviour of a bad person,'' the Cameroon international told reporters yesterday.

Eto'o also made a thinly veiled criticism of Ronaldinho, who had suggested that the Cameroon striker should put the interests of the team before his own.

''If a colleague comes out and says 'think about the team', then it should be him who should be thinking about the team,'' Eto'o said.

Eto'o clarified his declarations on late night radio programme El Larguero, saying he was more concerned about the criticism from team mates than by Rijkaard's comments.

''I'm not criticising Rijkaard, him and me aren't going to have any problems,'' he said. ''But what I am not going to accept is that someone comes out and says that everyone knows what they should do for the team.'' KNEE INJURY Eto'o, who is returning to action after four months out with a knee injury, said he had refused to come on against Santander because he needed to warm up for a longer period.

He added he was a doubt for next week's Champions League last 16 first leg match against Liverpool.

''My knee is a bit strange at the moment and I can't guarantee that I will be ready for the game. I hope to be there and if I am I will be very happy, if not I will be supporting the rest of the team,'' he said.

The striker's outburst has lifted the lid on divisions at the Catalan club, with the media speculating that the rivalry between Eto'o and Ronaldinho could prompt one of the players to leave at the end of the season.

The Spanish media have also reported that the political in-fighting and a rift amongst players could lead to Rijkaard quitting when the season ends, with his former club AC Milan tipped as a possible destination.

REUTERS DH HS1747