Other Sports
Barcelona to sign Eto'o
By The Source
Aug 12, 2004

Barcelona, Spain (Sports Network) - African player of the year Samuel Eto'o is expected to officially join Barcelona Thursday.

Eto'o, just 23, will become the first Cameroonian to suit up for Barcelona. Eto'o was signed by Real Madrid in 1997, but the Spanish giant sold 50 percent of the striker to Real Mallorca, where he played the last four seasons.

Eto'o had been rumored to be part of a deal that would send Eto'o to Liverpool in exchange for Michael Owen, but he insisted on joining Barcelona.

"For reasons that have nothing to do with me the deal has been delayed for a few days, but don't worry because joining Barca is still my overwhelming desire," said Eto'o.

Eto'o is another addition to an overhauled Barcelona club. It has already signed Portuguese international Deco, Swedish striker Henrik Larsson, French midfielder Ludovic Giuly and Brazilian defenders Juliano Belletti, Silvinho and Edmilson this summer.

Real Madrid had an option to buy Eto'o in full, but apparently have decided to accept half of Barcelona's transfer fee, which is expected to be around $27 million.

"It's a club (Real Madrid) that I don't want to return to because they never showed any faith in me and are now blocking my future progress," Eto'o said on Wednesday.