Madrid: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who had deemed Samuel Eto’o surplus when he was appointed in June, said on Tuesday that he is now counting on the Cameroon international for the upcoming season.

The 27-year-old was one of three high-profile players — Portugal’s Deco and Brazil’s Ronaldinho being the other two — who Guardiola said he was not counting on shortly after the coach took over the job with Frank Rijkaard.