Samuel Eto’o has stunned European champions Barcelona by reportedly asking for an extra $4.4 million payoff following his summer switch to Inter Milan.
The Cameroon striker has cited a Spanish league law which states that a player sold between two clubs in that country has the right to 15 percent of the transfer fee, according to Britain’s Daily Telegraph. While the 28-year-old moved to Italy, there is a legal precedent in that Deportivo Coruna were ordered by a court to pay Albert Luque $3.1 million in February 2008 following his $20.7 million switch to English club Newcastle. La Liga champions Barcelona, however, are standing firm and insist that the rule only applies between Spanish clubs, the Telegraph reported, and that in any case it would be Inter who are liable for any payment. Eto’o, who scored more than 30 goals last season as Barca completed a historic treble, moved to the San Siro for a $29.5 million fee while Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic went to the Nou Camp in a $68 million transfer. His haggling over the allegedly due money continues his somewhat acrimonious relationship with the Catalan giants.
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Barca coach Pep Guardiola was keen to offload him at the start of last season, and then the club were open to offers from Manchester City in the January transfer window and again in the summer. However, Eto’o decided against a move to England and then turned down the offer of a new contract from Barcelona before finally joining Inter after protracted negotiations. He fell out with previous coach Frank Rijkaard after refusing to come on as a substitute during a match in 2007 following his recovery from a broken leg. However, he was one of the team’s major stars on the pitch, and twice scored in winning Champions League finals. Meanwhile, former Barcelona star Ronaldinho has released a statement on his Web site rejecting reports that he is considering retirement. The Brazilian forward has not played in AC Milan’s past two matches after a quiet start to the season in Italy, where he moved a year ago in a bid to kickstart his career after also snubbing a big-money bid from Manchester City. “Contrary to what Spanish newspaper SPORT published in its September 2009 issue, I have never considered retiring,” the 29-year-old said. “The news is frivolous and comes from a sensationalist newspaper. Football is and always has been a source of joy to me. I am very happy to be in Milan playing for AC Milan, just as I was happy in all the other cities and clubs before. “I assure everybody that my contract with Milan only ends in 2011 and I intend to stay here for that period. Together with my teammates, we will fight to conquer all titles possible.”
