Tuesday 28 April 2009

City ask after Eto'o

A report in Tuesday's Times (also in the Mail) says that there were talks in London yesterday over the sale of Samuel Eto'o to City.

On the eve of his team’s Champions League semi-final, first leg with Chelsea, Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president, met Garry Cook, the Manchester City executive chairman, in London to discuss a deal for the striker. The Spanish club have also offered Eto’o, who could command a fee of up to £15 million, to Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

City remain keen on signing another superstar to play alongside Robinho after their unsuccessful attempt to buy Kaká for a world-record £103 million from AC Milan in January. Barcelona’s position has been weakened by Eto’o, 28, stalling on the offer of a new four-year contract, which means that he could leave on a free transfer when his present deal expires in 14 months.

Of all our alleged summer targets, this is the most exciting. Not simply because he is the best player with whom we are seriously linked, but because it may just be a credible story. Despite his magnificent season with Barcelona, his long term future in Catalonia is not secure.

Last summer Pep Guardiola, seeking to root out the complacency and discontent that soured the end of the Frank Rijkaard era, tried to sell Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o. The club found buyers for the first two - AC Milan took Ronaldinho for £16.7million (although Thaksin almost paid £25.5m for him), while Deco teamed up with Scolari at Chelsea, at a cost of £8million. But no one could be found to pay Eto'o's six figure weekly salary, and he stayed put.

Rather than continue to punish Eto'o, Guardiola has played him at the centre of his attacking trident, with great success. So far this year he's scored 27 in 31 games in La Liga, 30 in 41 in all competitions. It's an exceptional record. But his personal relationship with Guardiola is still said to be poor, and he has stalled on signing a new contract. His current deal runs out next summer. Barca are also chasing David Villa, and given el Guaje's alleged unwillingness to move abroad the Camp Nou remains his most likely destination. Should Villa go to Barcelona, Eto'o would be left looking for a new club. We could certainly match Barcelona's asking price and the player's wage demands. The only question is whether he would take such a step down, should he not be able to find another top bracket club to take him.

Much as I would love this to happen, I think that if he goes it won't be to us. He has already expressed a desire to play for Olympique de Marseille, who currently lie top of Ligue 1. Should they hold on to their lead, they will have the prestige, the Champions League football and the resources to offer him a more attractive destination.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pray with all the faith you have left that City do not get the 28 year old inconsistant star, this City fan wants better in the form of David Villa.

His club needs money simples.

newsoftheblues said...

inconsistant star 3 out of the last 5 seasons he has scored over 20 goals
in the two season he didnt he still reached double figure,, but didnt play as many games due to injury.


He's oustanding....not many strikers have his record. He record stand even before he joined Barca, if thats inconsistant...then who has a better record?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Agent talk, although Ladyman at the Mail was fairly consistently well informed during the ADUG takeover, so perhaps they may have some connections.

Interesting to note that he is reported to have met with Garry Cook and no mention of Hughes or Halford. Perhaps standard for opening transfer talks though.

At 5'10" he's got more height than Villa, which I think we need, although he doesn't look particularly "robust". But thats splitting hairs; great talent, (currently) performing well within a good team. I'd be happy to have him.

With our current financial position, we will be paying over the odds for players. I'd rather pay over the odds for someone like this, than over the odds for RSC.

nb said...

Eto'o is a wonderful footballer and anything but inconsistent. However, I am concerned by his reputation. Players motivated solely by money; characters who consistently fracture dressing rooms; and footballers with reputations for playboy lifestyles are not something City need more of.

A strike force of Bellamy and Eto'o would be combustible. Hopefully, Sparky's German boot camp does not have a golf course...