Search:



The Web

Rediff










Home > Sports > Football > Reuters > Report

Eto'o completes Barcelona move


August 13, 2004 11:18 IST

African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o completed a 24-million euro ($29.41 million) move to Barcelona on Thursday after Real Madrid decided not to exercise their option on the Real Mallorca striker.

The 23-year-old, who signed a four-year deal with his new club and will wear the number nine shSamuel Eto'oirt previously worn by Patrick Kluivert, said nothing would have persuaded him to return to his former side Real Madrid.

"If they had offered to pay 1000 million I would not have gone to Real Madrid because I would never have been happy," the Cameroon international told reporters at the Nou Camp.

"I gave all I could to make the Mallorca fans happy while I was there and now I will try and do the same at Barcelona."

Real Madrid, who had a 50 percent share in the player, were reported to be keen to use Eto'o as part of a deal to sign Liverpool striker Michael Owen but his insistence on joining the Catalan club gave them little option but to accept the move.

Real will receive 12 million euros for their share of the player and are expected to used the new funds to help finance the possible purchase of both Owen and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Eto'o is the seventh player to join Barca since the end of last season when they finished runners-up to Valencia in the Primera Liga and brings their total spending on new recruits to over 60 million euros.

Portugal playmaker Deco, Sweden striker Henrik Larsson, French midfielder Ludovic Giuly and Brazilian defenders Juliano Belletti, Silvinho and Edmilson are the other new signings.

FIERY TEMPERAMENT

Eto'o's arrival will fuel speculation that Barca plan to offload Argentine striker Javier Saviola.

The Cameroon international, who scored 17 league goals last season, will take one of three berths for non-European Union players at Primera Liga clubs and that will increase the pressure on Barca to secure Spanish citizenship for other new signings.

Eto'o joined Real Madrid as a 16-year-old in 1997 but was loaned out to Leganes and then Mallorca -- who subsequently bought a half share in him -- to gain experience.

He went on to become the islanders' most influential player, renowned for his turn of speed, neatly taken goals and fiery temperament.

Eto'o formed a key part of Cameroon's gold medal-winning side at the Sydney Olympics and in their back-to-back African Nations Cup victories in 2000 and 2002.

He inspired Mallorca to victory in the Spanish King's Cup in 2003, scoring twice in their 3-0 win over Recreativo Huelva, and made a name for himself with spectacular goals against Real Madrid in the Cup and the league.



Article Tools
Email this article
Top emailed links
Print this article
Write us a letter
Discuss this article



Related Stories


Real Madrid 'agree' Vieira terms

Camacho wants new Real signings

Real Madrid looking for stars








© Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.











Copyright © 2004 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.