Last August 12 clocked 17 years that Samuel Eto’o signed up to FC Barcelona for 27M €!
Samuel Eto’o began his career in 1996, when he joined Real Madrid. He then played for FC Barcelona, from 2004 to 2009, then at Inter Milan from 2009 to 2011. After having worked in various clubs, he signed on January 18, 2015 at UC Sampdoria, in Italy.
Since 1997, he was also a member of the Cameroon national team, which he left in 2014 after the World Cup in Brazil. But before knowing the glory the former captain of the Indomitable Lions also knew hard times.
In a recent interview with La Tribune Afrique, Samuel Eto’o confided in his struggles in Europe, when he was only 12 years old.
“I was in this situation for a few months, over 25 years ago. It was so bad that I decided to go back to Cameroon. My parents did not understand my choice. I was only 12 years old and I couldn’t go to school anymore, or even play football.
I remember telling my big sister Sidonie that I was in such pain that I would have been able to kill myself. I wanted to go home. Europe is often a very beautiful dream which rarely meets our expectations […] I angry when I see the means made available to the federations by the African Football Confederation (CAF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) .
How to explain that there are new infrastructures regularly in Europe and never in Africa? I would add that we should not expect everything from our governments, Africans must also get involved today to create an environment favorable to athletes and prevent young people from having only one idea in mind, that of going to Europe! Africans must flourish in their own country. By building infrastructure, we will save a lot of lives. On the other hand, we will have a chance to better sell our football and African players will be able to live from their passion on the continent. From then on, we will be able to develop more competitive selections that will be able to compete with the best teams in the world ”, By building infrastructure, we will save a lot of lives. On the other hand, we will have a chance to better sell our football and African players will be able to live from their passion on the continent. From then on, we will be able to develop more competitive selections that will be able to compete with the best teams in the world ”, By building infrastructure, we will save a lot of lives. On the other hand, we will have a chance to better sell our football and African players will be able to live from their passion on the continent. From then on, we will be able to develop more competitive selections that will be able to compete with the best teams in the world ”, he testifies