Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was not able to move to English Premier League club Manchester City due to a contractual hitch.

City said they have now called off any move for the 28-year-old, who is set to see out the final year of his Barcelona contract.

"Samuel Eto'o is undoubtedly a fine footballer but the circumstances surrounding him were such that the deal could not be completed," City chief executive Garry Cook told club website www.mcfc.co.uk.

Last month Barcelona said they had received a "stratospheric" offer for Eto'o, believed to be from City, but the Catalan club's chairman Joan Laporta said he wanted the star to stay put.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2009)