The saga of what will happen with Cameroon goal assassin Samuel Eto'o is finally over. Eto'o is headed to Inter Milan where he will pair up with Diego Milito to form the most devastating strike duo the Nerazzurri has had in 10-15 years. As a Barca fan, I am thoroughly disappointed and upset. Why? Because, for a guy who has been the best striker in the world the last 4-5 years, he was low-balled by a team he showed a lot of loyalty too.

I can't help to think that if Eto'o weren't a dark-skinned African but a light-skinned European that he would have gotten the money he deserved and would be still wearing the famous Barca shirt. Let's be real here, in recent history Barcelona has a reputation of making their darker skinned talents feel less wanted and valuable.

Rivaldo, Patrick Kluivert, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and even Frank Rijkaard all left Barca unappreciated. The club chose Louis Van Gaal over Rivaldo, Kluivert was unceremoniously released in 2004, Ronaldo only played one season, and Ronaldinho's well-publicized fall out was a shame for a player who helped to put Barca back on the footballing map. Even Rijkaard who won 2 La Liga titles and a Champions League seems less revered than Van Gaal whose 2nd tenure at Barca was a disaster.

Now Eto'o suffers the same fate, an unappreciated exit from the club that helped his career and that he helped become THE European power.


During Eto'o's tenure Barca has extended lifetime till retirement contracts to Xavi, Puyol, and hopefully soon Andres Iniesta all of them more than deserve it. Eto'o was just as important to Barca's success and they refused to make the same commitment. What's the difference between Eto'o and those guys?

[Continued on Part II]