Walter Wilson Nana, AfricaNews reporter in Buea, Cameroon
Samuel Fils Eto'o, the emblematic player of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon is now the highest paid player in the world. After protracted transfer negotiation arrangements between his Italian side Inter and the receiving Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala, the striker has put pen to paper.
Eto’o agreed a juicy three-year contract, worth 20 million Euro (FCFA 13 billion) a year. According to the contract, the four-time African player of the year will be taking home a monthly salary of FCFA 1.2 billion.
This newfound deal, continues to put Eto’o on the international spotlight, this time, breaking a new record in the world of football as the highest paid player ever in that game of passion. Prior to the Russian move, the Cameroonian captain has been taking home a monthly wage of FCFA 500 million from Inter.
Before succumbing to the offer from the Russian club, discussions between the management of Inter and that of Anzhi got stalled when the Italians asked for a FCFA 22 billion transfer fee for Eto’o, while the Russians were set to offer FCFA 15.2 billion for Eto’o’s transfer to Russia. Eto’o had earlier made a clean sheet on his medical test from the health department of Anzhi, conducted in Rome.
Now Russian bound for the next three years, the door, which was also open for Eto’o for a move to English Premier League club, Manchester City is closed.
Some football enthusiasts have read in Eto’o’s Russian move, an opportunity to give media attention to the Russian league, which before now has not been the case. In the recent FIFA ballot to get subsequent hosts for the FIFA World Cup, Russia won the 2018 bid after Brazil for 2014.
According to the Anzhi club president and oil mogul, Suleiman Kerimov, the coming of Eto’o, alongside other top class footballers like Brazilian-born Roberto Carlos, is an attempt to progressively take away the racist atmosphere that characterise the town of Makhachkala in Russia. Eto’o will be joining fellow Cameroonian, Benoit Angbwa, who trades his professional football skills at Anzhi.
Other observers agree with Eto’o’s wish to pursue his football career in Russia for the sake of the money and considering that he is 30 already, his days in active football is already being counted.
Across the streets in Cameroon and debates going on in media houses in the country, the question many have been throwing in the air is; what will Eto’o be doing with that mouth-watering money at his disposal?
