Cameroon International | Samuel Eto

The Messis and the Ronaldos of the football world can eat their hearts out; according to reports in the Cameroon news media, as also sports journals the world over, Cameroonian international Samuel Eto’o has signed a deal with Russian soccer club Anzhi Makhachkala that will propel him to the top of the list of the world’s highest paid footballers.

A recent statement on the club’s website states that an agreement has been reached between Anzhi and Inter Milan — the club that Eto’o currently plays for — and that the terms have been worked over to amply suit all involved parties.

The superlative striker has been formally awarded a three-year contract after he successfully cleared a routine medical checkup.
Reports state that Eto’o stands to earn a net amount of €20 million (US $29 million) net per season, eclipsing the estimated €12 million that Real Madrid pays to Cristiano Ronaldo and pushing Lionel Messi’s €10.5 million annual purse at Barcelona to third place.

As Inter Milan’s contract with Eto’o hasn’t expired yet, Anzhi would also have to pay a transfer fees of nearly €27 million, a sum fixed after negotiations that lasted nearly a week.

Anzhi state that Eto’o will join the clun ASAP to prepare for the match against rival club FC Rostov.

The club is owned by billionaire oil magnate Suleiman Kerimov and is located in the southern Russian province of Dagestan.
For Eto’o, this opportunity means more than mere riches; after having been a part of a Champion League side on three occasions — twice at Barcelona and once at Inter — he’s getting a chance to build a possible success story in the cash-rich but still fledgling Russian League.

At 30, it seems that Eto’o is yet to reach his peak. He led the scoring tables for Inter by scoring 37 goals in all competitions last season, having eclipsed Milito as the club’s most prolific goal artist. He played a key role in Inter’s victorious Champions League in 2010, often putting team before self by accepting an attacking midfield or defensive role for erstwhile coach Jose Mourinho.

His stint at Inter, beginning in 2009, followed what had been a career-defining five year stint at Barcelona, which saw him being a part of the Champions League winning side on two occasions. Not only that, he scored in the final games on both instances, against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Anzhi boasts of another living legend in its ranks: its captain is 38-year-old former Brazilian team left-back Roberto Carlos, he of the phenomenal banana kick and rock solid defence.

That the Russian club could afford to spend on a heavy hitter like Eto’o should come as no surprise, as Forbes magazine’s latest list on the world’s wealthiest people places club owner Kerimov at the 118th position, tying with Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi.

A club spokesman commented, “He’s a good player so of course he costs good money. Of course it’s a very good deal for our club. Samuel is very well known all over the world.”

After achieving several milestones in a distinguished club-football career, Samuel Eto’o has once again given Cameroon football and his countrymen a lot to be proud about.
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