SAMUEL ETO’O EYES UNITED
Barca star will drop crazy pay demands to join champs
SAMUEL ETO'O will drop his astronomic wage demands to join Manchester United.
The Barcelona striker has been haggling over a move to Manchester City for nearly six weeks and has asked for £200,000 a week to quit the Nou Camp.
He also wants a £12million slice of the £25m transfer fee, which has prevented the deal from going through as the European champions stand firm.
But the Cameroon international would waive such a lump sum if Sir Alex Ferguson came in for him. Fergie could still be in for a striker - despite the capture of Michael Owen - and only a club of United's stature will prise Eto'o away from Spain.
He would accept a cut-price £150,000-a-week deal that would still make him the top earner at Old Trafford instead of the possibility of mid-table football at Eastlands.
One source close to the player said: "Samuel has not been convinced by a move to a mid-table side in the Premier League and neither will he sign a new deal at Barca."
Barcelona have offered the player a two-year extension on his current £100,000- a-week deal.
But Eto'o, 28, could play out his final year at Barcelona and be free to negotiate a lucrative swansong at the end of next season.
Barcelona will go ahead with their plans to sign David Villa this week regardless of Eto'o digging his heels in.
Coach Pep Guardiola has told sporting director Txiki Begiristain that he would have no problem having both Eto'o and Villa in the same team.
If Valencia turn down Barca's £40m offer for Villa, they will turn their attention to Diego Forlan. The Atletico Madrid striker has a £33m buyout clause, although Barca believe they could get him for closer to £30m.
This article has 123 comments
Great move with Eto`o and I love Owen too, It would't surprise me if Owen scores 20 goals for United coming season and Eto'O 30 goals. I say to Fergie 'get a stunning midfielder' and a stopper in the net...
Oser
By Oser. Posted July 5 2009 at 9:14 AM.
Etoo will be a massive attraction at O.T.As a United fan, this will really be great.Everyone who follow Spanish football knows the impact that he has had on Barcelonas' game.Just remember who scores the first goal in the final against United...
He still has three or four years playing at high level and hopefully it will be at O.T.
By Ed. Posted July 5 2009 at 9:12 AM.
Eto'o is a brilliant player.both fans and administration of Barca know that.he deserves $300 000 a week and if he leaves Barca goes down ,i dreamt and lets watch.
By Daniel Magot. Posted July 5 2009 at 9:11 AM.
city ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha h ha you make me laugh,you are nothing with a crap manager,top bloke but a mid table boss city are a laughing stock,u mak utd's day coz we all hav a good laugh at you!!
By matt busby. Posted July 5 2009 at 9:15 AM.
ALL THE BITTERS HAVE GOT TO WAKE UP YOU,LL WIN NOTHING AGAIN, YOU A MID TABLE TEAM FULL OF GREEDY PLAYERS WHO WANT BIG PAY CHECKS. 34 YEARS.
By CANTONA. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:58 AM.
100 k a week, and 20 million transfer.... not worth more than that to join united.
He certainly shouldn't be the highest paid at united, he's no messi or ronaldo.
By Thant. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:44 AM.
Dunno why everyone is having a go at city, all the clubs in the prem would do what they are trying to do and it may take them a few years to build a proper base before the top players arrive....
We did it, anyone remember the influx of Pallister, Wallce, Hughes, McClair etc
City's hardest job is to attract the top top players whilst they're not in the Champions League, when/ if they qualify for that, then watch the money get spent
By jj. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:47 AM.
Dunno why everyone is having a go at city, all the clubs in the prem would do what they are trying to do and it may take them a few years to build a proper base before the top players arrive....
We did it, anyone remember the influx of Pallister, Wallce, Hughes, McClair etc
City's hardest job is to attract the top top players whilst they're not in the Champions League, when/ if they qualify for that, then watch the money get spent
By jj. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:46 AM.
Um Mic84,the only reason Utd sell shirts around the world is because they are so successful here and on the continent,you have to earn the right to be a massive club...we don't buy success we earn it by playing fantastic football which showcases English and continental talent.Fergie has turned United around but never started with a huge budget...it was earned...by winning things...not just a billionaire owner waltzing in and flashing the cash,Jealousy is a cruel mistress...and Tevez will only sign for you cos he is happy in cheshire and could not hack the fact that United would not rush to sign him because he spat the dummy cos of rotation(you will be getting an un-loyal player)...But will he stay part of a mid table team of United wannabes? Trophies and history attract players and i suppose thats why we are head and shoulders above City and always will be.MUFC
By Daddycool. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:30 AM.
I am a Man United fan. In as much as i am worried about the loss of Tevez and Ronaldo, i know Sir Alex will always have a plan B to take the team forward and to a better height. I just wish he could agree with me that Samuel Eto at the moment is one of the greatest available strikers in Modern day football. I keep praying eyery day to hear he has put in an offer for Eto which am sure the latter will not refuse. Because Eto will add to what united have been missing for almost three seasons a centre forward
By Charles Ashu. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:18 AM.
'Kaka one cant remember anyone else to date. barry,cruz ,de jong ,given,bridge,swp,robinho,bellamy not going thru all off them.'
Out of all the players listed there, the only one that is world class is the one that turned you down.
Bellamy-£14m or so and he's been released for nothing, great buy
By Thomas. Posted July 5 2009 at 6:04 AM.
you are all embarassing since when was english football all about money and mercenaries.... city, united and Chelsea are just like Real madrid. I would rather watch teams with english talent who develop playeers for the furure of the english game internationally and domestically as well. These guys join for a few years and then move on...its no wonder the league is in the state it is.... what are city gonna do when the arabs move on....... yep they will do a leeds or newcastle...
By TomH. Posted July 5 2009 at 4:40 AM.
Come on everyone stop having a go at City. To many years have we supporters (City til I die!) suffered, now we have a chance. The only way is to offer big wages to the top players, then when we start winning and getting in the CL more top players will arrive. All top teams have bought success apart from Arsenal and they havent won nothing for 4 yrs, having more than four clubs in the race is good news! If we get JT we will win the league no doubt, he is the missing piece.
By Terry Harper. Posted July 5 2009 at 4:54 AM.
mic84 utd got there money selling shirts to plastics around the world it did'nt all come thru the gate money or thru winning things,they got millions of people buying shirts we got one man biying one big shirt no difference.
And we know why an arsenal fan would rather utd got eto'o...;)
By bluze. Posted July 5 2009 at 2:34 AM.
the only reason ppl (mainly city fans) are saying utd cant afford him is cos of his huge wage demands, but those ppl (mainly city fans) havent realised that his huge wage demands are only for if he goes to city cos he knows he will be playing at a lot lower level then at barca or utd so he wants to be compensated, which is understandable cos he wont get bonuses for winning leagues or CL at city cos they aint gonna win them!!!
another reason he has made such huge wage demands for moveing to city is cos he doesnt actually want to go there and he is trying to price himself out of a move to city cos he doesnt think they would be mug enough to actually pay him that, but we all know they would be cos they think money will buy them everthin and everyone they want, didnt get em kaka tho, lol!
but even if he still kept his wage demands for a move to utd they would still be able to afford him, they just been payed 80mil in full for ronaldo!!!
im an arsenal fan but i would rather see him go to utd than city cos at least they have earned the money they spend, they aint a charity case like city who need an arab billionaire to make them successful!!!!
By mic84. Posted July 5 2009 at 2:11 AM.
ffffffffff.most of city's targets turning them down
Kaka one cant remember anyone else to date. barry,cruz ,de jong ,given,bridge,swp,robinho,bellamy not going thru all off them.
compate that to utd ronaldo gone to bigger club, teves snubbed utds offer, benzema snubbed utd for real madrid,ribery wants real madrid,villa rather stay in spain.
we'll wait and see if the yanks give fergie any more spare change thats if its not allready been used to pay there debt....;)
By bluze. Posted July 5 2009 at 2:01 AM.
actually Man U could afford him as the transfer money for Ronaldo was paid in full, but i dont think he's the answer, especially beings he's 28
By Mathew Dale. Posted July 5 2009 at 1:25 AM.
Look at all the high and mighty city fans now that they've got some arabs on their side. You'd think most of city's targets turning them down would have made them realise that they're still a little fish in a big pond. Also, I'm not sure where the "united can't afford him" comments are coming from since ronaldo brought them some nice change.
By ffffffffff. Posted July 5 2009 at 1:20 AM.
ash said he will stay at Barca not go to City his agent has said that!Thats not true, his agent said if barca dont wont eto'o then they would be happy to talk to City add to that barca need money to buy Villa(another one who snubbed utd)City will pay cash not on drip like utd so dont get to excited utd fans not gonna happen,but hey you just signed Owen he's better than ronaldo now aint he........;)
By bluze. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:51 AM.
I think you will find united could more than afford Eto if they wanted him and if this is true then it appears he will take a pay cut to join united but not to stay at city or barca add that to the fact united are a far bigger club than city and have a bigger attraction then this story could be true, he's proven, experienced and a goalscorer so he is someone united could well look at and go for - also ferguson would love nothing more to get one over on city and it would be priceless to see Hughes's face. By the way if no other club comes in for him he will stay at Barca not go to City his agent has said that!
By ash. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:42 PM.
we could afford him alright, if he had a choice he would pick united but i dont believe theyre in for him, fergie has said he wont spend big on anyone over 26 anymore
By pat cunningham. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:37 PM.
we can not afford him
Lets wait and see shall we
By Man U ALL THE WAY. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:31 PM.
LIKE they could afford him.
He's coming to City or staying at Barca.
By Theo. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:03 PM.