Eto'o's criticism comes after Rijkaard told the press that his striker didn't want to play for some minutes in Sunday's Primera Liga fixture against Racing Santander at Camp Nou.

"Going to the press room and saying I didn't want to play, this comes from a bad person!" Eto'o told Catalan newspaper El Mundo Deportivo on Tuesday.

Eto'o saw no action during the match against Santander while he played for five minutes a week ago against Osasuna after recovering from a long-term injury.

The three-time African Footballer of the Year went on to slam the atmosphere at the Catalan club, saying: "There are two groups inside the club, one in favor of the president, the other follow another person."

Barcelona's super star, Ronaldinho, also had his share of criticism for Eto'o.

The Brazilian playmaker commented on Eto'o's absence from training on Monday saying that “every player has to work for the group”.

Eto'o's response was equally blunt.

"If a teammate says we have to think of the group, he is the one who has to! This is what hurts me the most," the 25-year-old said.