Eto'o, whose contract at Nou Camp expires by the end of next season, refused an extension offer from Barca before turning down an offer to join Manchester City.

The Cameroonian international and his agent later went public by saying that the 28-year-old will stay at Barcelona and leave the club for free next summer.

"Samuel and his representative said that he wants to continue and the club offered him a contract renewal with the same conditions he had, which we believe are very good," Laporta told Radio Cadena Cope.

"I think that what his representative is doing is not helping Samuel. It's a mistake to take the debate in the media. It's not doing the player any favours.

"Personally this matter has left me a little disappointed, it saddens me because I hold Eto'o in high esteem."

Eto'o, who joined Barca from Real Mallorca in 2004, has so far scored over 120 goals for the Catalans in all competitions.