Barcelona has reached an initial agreement with Inter Milan to sign striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a deal that could also send striker Samuel Eto'o and midfielder Aleksandr Hleb to the Italian champion. Barcelona president Joan Laporta says “there is an agreement in principle with Inter Milan.” That follows reports in Spain that a ¤40m ($56m) deal had been sealed on Thursday. The Catalan club, however, said Friday it was still negotiating with Inter. Laporta said the deal still depended on Ibrahimovic and Eto'o, so other options 0 such as Valencia striker David Villa 0 had not been discarded. Inter president Massimo Moratti said the impromptu meeting with Laporta - and Barcelona sporting director Txiki Beguiristain - was originally intended to tie up left back Maxwell's $6.4 million transfer to Barcelona and complete Hleb's move. Barca agreed to extend the 28-year-old Eto'o's vacation time as it sought a replacement. Villa was linked with a potential move but Barcelona was unwilling to meet Valencia's $71m asking price for the Spain striker.
