Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has moved a step closer to joining Inter Milan after agreeing personal terms with the Italian champions, his agent has revealed.
The Cameroon international will reportedly sign a five-year contract worth almost $15 million per season. Spanish champions Barcelona have already agreed a deal to swap Eto’o for Inter’s star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic plus $74 million and the loan of Nou Camp fringe player Aleksander Hleb. Sweden forward Ibrahimovic, who suffered a sprained wrist in Tuesday’s defeat by Chelsea, is still negotiating his own terms with the European champions. Latest transfer rumors and gossip Eto’o’s agent Josep Maria Mesalles told reporters on Thursday that the deal to take the 28-year-old to the San Siro was almost complete. “It’s done. We have reached an agreement with Inter,” he said. “Samuel talked to (coach Jose) Mourinho yesterday and is very happy to be wearing the Nerazzurri shirt. All the details have been filed. “It’s complete harmony with us and the club. We are very happy and satisfied. The deal’s sealed, next week he will start working with Inter. “As soon as he signs the contract he will be at Mourinho’s disposal.”
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Eto’o is poised to end what has recently been an acrimonious five-year stay in the Catalan capital. He was the club’s top scorer last season with 34 goals, but annoyed the club while being courted by English club Manchester City, leading coach Pep Guardiola to state that it would be best for the club if the player left despite him having been offered a new contract. Two years ago he was criticized by former teammate Ronaldinho after refusing to come on as a late substitute following his recovery from a broken leg. Eto’o will leave the Nou Camp as the fourth highest goalscorer in the club’s history, and netted in both finals as Barcelona won the Champions League in 2006 and 2009. On Thursday Barcelona bolstered Guardiola’s strike force, announcing an agreement to sign Keirrison from Brazilian club Palmeiras. Barca will pay an initial $20 million for the 20-year-old forward, who will undergo a medical on Friday and sign a five-year contract.
Meanwhile, Inter’s veteran France midfielder Patrick Vieira will be assessed again this week to determine whether he needs to have surgery. While Ibrahimovic’s wrist injury was not as serious as Inter first feared, Vieira may need to have an operation after it was revealed that he had torn a ligament in his left index finger.
