Sweden striker Henrik Larsson [Images] plans to leave Barcelona at the end of the season and return to his homeland.

"We feel that it is time for us to move home," Larsson, referring to his wife, was quoted as saying in Sweden's Helsingborg Dagblad newspaper on Tuesday.

"There have been many questions about my contract and I think it is good to avoid all this speculation in the future," he added.

Larsson told his hometown newspaper things might have been different if he had played more for Barcelona this season, although that is not the main reason he wanted to return to Sweden.

The 34-year-old missed most of last season with a knee injury and has mainly been confined to covering for the Spanish champions' first-choice striker Samuel Eto'o.

Larsson, who previously play for Feyenoord and Celtic, said he might join Swedish premier league side Helsingborg but had received other offers.

Larsson's agent, Rob Jansen, said earlier this month during a news conference the Swede was considering returning home, although he had been given a verbal offer of a contract extension with Barcelona until 2007.

Larsson came out of international retirement to help Sweden qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany [Images], where they have been drawn with England [Images], Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago in Group B.

He told Helsingborg Dagblad he wants to continue to play for the national side.

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