Sale of Eto’o stunned me

1. At the end of the last season, Coach Guardiola of Barcelona FC announced to football lovers the sale of Samuel Eto’o, one of the most prolific strikers the world has ever seen. What was surprising about the announcement that broke the minds of many Barcelona FC fans was the fact that he (Eto’o) was returning from the battle ground with the triple victories and was in top form. Eto’o had led his team to a European Champions League victory but this would not deter Guardiola from “disposing-off” the lad that   has done wonders for the club.

Worse of all, Eto’o plus cash were given to Inter Milan as a swap for Ibrahimovich. It is still very difficult to contemplate the rationale behind this unwarranted transaction. As tongues have continue to wag, many have postulated that the action was in bad fate which aroused out of hatred for the Cameroonian striker especially after the long meritorious service he rendered to the club scoring opening goals in two of the most recent European Champions League finals the club has won. It is on record that Eto’o scored more than a hundred goals for the club and goes down in the history of the club as one of the greatest strikers Barcelona has ever had.

Eto’o did it when it mattered for the club but Guardiola who sooner than was announced as a replacement for Rikaard announced that Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Deco were a trio he would not like to see in the club, was already prejudiced against Eto’o even before taking over as the coach of the team for no other reason than he felt that a firm grip of the team players was necessity.

It was quite surprising that Guardiola risked the highest goal for the club with as much as 30 goals for the season ended for untested style in Ibrahimovich. It was one reckless action Laporta should have avoided by every means if victories were to be sure for the club but the sale of Eto’o became one flash of action Barcelona FC fans and followers of the game in that part of the Europe could not understand.

Eto’o netted more goals than Ibrahimovich last season, won more trophies, played more matches, thus better decorated than the former Inter Milan striker but sentiments blinded Guardiola to walk through the wrong path. All Barcelona fans are saying is give a strong, hard-fighting and purposeful player in Eto’o and assure us of victory. Iniesta and Messi are no less surprised that Eto’o was disgracefully sold in an arrangement that only Laporter and Guardiola know better. Messi has since expressed his surprise that his much cherished performer plus money could be swapped for Ibrahimovich. If unconvinced inquire from the well respected Real Madrid keeper who has recently remarked that Eto’o would not be missed in La liga where he has been caused a lot of damage each time both teams met.

Now that the battle line is drawn once again in Europe involving other ever ready club sides, one cannot but wait to see what Ibrahimovich can offer us. Though, he has started very well and wonderfully well too with scintillating goals, it is still doubtful whether he can do it for the club like the prolific Samuel Eto’o. Eto’o your wonderful performances and achievements will remember in the minds of Barcelona FC supporters and die-hard fans.