Could the three times Champions League winner do a job at United?
Over the past few seasons of European football, no player has been quite as impressive as Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto’o.
Three Champions League triumphs in five seasons speaks for itself, as does two consecutive trebles in 2009 and 2010.
Eto’o has become one of Africa’s most recognisable footballers, a man who has performed well on both the club and international level. At age thirty, Eto’o has showed no signs of digression, he scored thirty-eight goals for club and country last season.
However, perhaps more telling is Eto’o’s discipline, an underrated trait which would no doubt be valued by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Cameroonian’s defensive performance against Inter Milan in the 2010 Champions League semi-final was simply astounding; it is rare for a star striker to be so willing to track back and play out of position. And oh yeah, Eto’o would be useful to us in an attacking capacity too, the striker has been prolific throughout his career, scoring goals galore for two of Europe’s most storied clubs.
Eto’o possesses that unique ability to produce something out of nothing, and he would provide that touch of magic which has been lacking since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. Even more encouragingly, Eto’o has admitted that he is interested in a move to England, however, Arsenal and Manchester City look to be early front runners.
Up front, Dimitar Berbatov’s future is wreathed in doubt, reports emerged this morning linking the Bulgarian to a return to White Hart Lane as a makeweight in Fergie’s pursuit of Luka Modric, and he has still to sign a new contract. Returning youngters like Diouf and Welbeck are as of yet not good enough to be trusted back up to Wayne Rooney and Chicharito Hernandez, and Michael Owen is too injury prone to fulfill that role either. If Eto’o were to join up, Wayne Rooney could drop back into the attacking midfield position which he occupied for most of last season, and the Cameroonian could parnter Hernandez in attack. United would have a versatile and penatrive front three, a triumvirate of attackers that could be further complemented by the likes of Owen, Welbeck and maybe Berbatov off the bench.
No doubt, it will be difficult to secure Eto’o’s services, and any move for him would more or less end our chances of signing Sneijder. However, with Wayne Rooney potentially moving into central midfield, we would be able to bag our pursuit of a creative midfielder, Wazza has showed that he is capable of filling that void.
Eto’o has speed, strengh and the ability to finish, all attributes necessary to be a top, top Premier league player, as well as the experience required to help United steer through the latter stages of European competition. Moreover, Eto’o has conqured the men from Barcelona in the past, and with that the stated goal of the final years of Ferguson’s reign, the Inter Milan man would be an ideal signing.
As far as price goes, Eto’o would likely be availabe for something in the region of thirty million pounds, and a move for him would have to represent our only big money signing of the summer. Our pursuit of players like Sanchez, Sneijder and Modric would all end, but in return we would claim one of the greatest goalscorers of the modern era.
…although I must add that his ability is undoubted. Exceptional player.
All we need right now is a defensive midfielder not some 30 year old Etoo.sneijder is not good enough to my view because he is not aggressive
Good article,
I don’t really agree with signing him now, definitely not for £30m.
He had to chance to come to MU but refused,I don’t think SAF or Lord Ferguson would give any oldie and final pay day.
SAF would always give younger players a chance,some take it, others don’t. eg Smalling, Chicarito, Silva twins etc. Rossi was given a chance and didn’t perform,he was sent away on loan,did well, brought back and again didn’t perform. So there was no choice but to let him go.
Same as Pique,but look at them now. I don’t think you can say “what if” as they were given chances and didn’t hack it.
This season Macheda and Welbeck will be tried and we’ll see how they do.
I’m glad Owen,( and Scholes) is around,their skill, experience and professionalism will be an example for the young strikers.
For me Rooney still gets flustered when things aren’t going well.I’m not convinced of him being a creative midfielder,more like a supporting striker.I still think MU need to spend big to bring in quality players.The Barca midfield is in the top 20 of the highiest paid footballers,with Messi at no.2.
ETO’O TO MAN U AT 30M? I LUV D WAY HE PLAYS BUT I DONT THINK WE NEED HIM WITH THE PRESCENCE OF D YOUNG “PROF” CHICHA.I WOULDN’T LIKE TO SEE ROONEY AS AN ATACKING MID BUT RATHER AS A SUPPORTING ATTACKER-HIS BEST POSITION OF COURSE BUT A MORE FLEXIBLE PLAYER,ONE WHO AVERAGES 15 ASSIST IN A SEASON,DETECTS PLAY & WITH A LITTLE BIT OF DFENCE THEN BACK HIM UP WITH A DE ROSSI KIND OF PLAYER-NICE DFENDING,MATURED,COMPOSED & CAN ATTACK WHEN NECCESSARY.WE NEED A PLAYER LYK MARTIN -17 ASSIST IN A SEASON! MARVELOUS.
Bad idea
Man U hates black african players and we all know
he should just go for man City. they qualifyed to be part of uefa next season
….Manchester United are not watching skin color of player…Who cares for that? It’s racist. . WE have white,yellow,black players in squad….and they are great and same…and UNITED!
Javier Hernandez…Sh!tshar!to (Little Sh!t) played like it during the CL Final. He needs time to develop, and more time learning from Rooney and a guy like Eto would do wonders. ETO would be a short-term thing (2 years, 3 at most)…then offload him for some cash.
6.5 million for an over 30 striker?
wtf eto wouldnt come to us in his pomp why should he come now ? ……..money thats all, nothing other than pure greed.
cant stand these players who at some point have all turned round and said to to the premiership, they get to 30+ and then all start shouting how they would love to come.
and another point to d-man
man united dont hate black african players in the past yes its noted we have not had that many Quinton Fortune and djemba djemba are 2 that spring to mind, we tried to sign essien and obi mikkel and at the last minute they both opted for chelsea.
we have actualy had a few who have come to us but have never made the grade in the reserves
manucho ANGOLA wait and see til next season
souleymane mamam TOGO we signed him but after four years of him playing in antwerp we decided to let him go
artur gomez GAMBIA same with him
the biggest problem apart from the nations cup is that we cant get work permits for them and also they aint good enough compared to what we got if they aint going to improve the squad there is no need to buy them so its a bit unfair to say fergie dont give african players a chance
No african player like a racist club & a racist manager.
if the world is looking for the best player the should go for samuel etoo cause we have not see any one in the world thats is as fast as samuel etoo and we hope to see him in chelsea so he give chelsea champion league