a écrit le 7 mai 2010 à 8h45 Nonetheless, at the end of a season when Barca won their historic treble, the Cameroonian was still deemed surplus to requirements and was, as jaws fell across the world, swapped with Inter for Zlatan Ibrahimovic ... and 46m euros.
So that's money in the bank and Eto'o and a place in the Champions League final - not a bad deal considering Gerard Pique looked more threatening than 'Ibra' on Wednesday.
Eto'o's warm clapping of the home crowd was a dignified show of restraint for a man not famed for controlling his emotions, but he must have been churning inside. Earlier in the season, he had come back to a heroic reception - in Inter's group clash at the Nou Camp - as nearly 100,000 Catalans rose to applaud a player they appreciated more than the coaching staff. This time though, there was the unparalleled satisfaction of having knocked out the coach/club that didn't want him.
And the 'vengeance' missions continue. Though Eto'o has returned many times to the Bernabeu since leaving Real Madrid, he's never had the chance to lift their holy grail in their own backyard.
And Madrid's powers-that-be will surely be squirming again as the shivering teenager they failed to collect at the airport, then never gave a real chance to, returns to contest the football match that means most to them.
Packed off to Mallorca, the rest was history for Eto'o - and now, with great irony, he returns having won more Champions League medals since his departure than Madrid themselves. One wonders how Madrid fans will evaluate club strategy when finding not one, but three, discards returning - Eto'o being joined by the brilliant Dutch duo of Wesley Sneijder (Inter) and Arjen Robben (Bayern).
Bidding for an unprecedented 'hat-trick' of Champions League final goals, Eto'o is the only of Inter's three Africans likely to start against Bayern. For Mourinho is introducing Mariga slowly, mainly as a late substitute to shore up a game, while the coach is unlikely to put his trust in Muntari after the Ghanaian's horror show in Spain.
A second-half substitute , the midfielder was booked after 82 minutes, played Pique onside for Barca's goal after 84 minutes and then tugged Dani Alves for what looked a clear penalty after 88 minutes. Had that been given, Mourinho's conversation with Muntari could have made those with Mario Balotelli in recent weeks seem like friendly catch-ups.
After Muntari's absence from Ghana's successful Nations Cup campaign for indiscipline and his disaster at Catania
So that's money in the bank and Eto'o and a place in the Champions League final - not a bad deal considering Gerard Pique looked more threatening than 'Ibra' on Wednesday.
Eto'o's warm clapping of the home crowd was a dignified show of restraint for a man not famed for controlling his emotions, but he must have been churning inside. Earlier in the season, he had come back to a heroic reception - in Inter's group clash at the Nou Camp - as nearly 100,000 Catalans rose to applaud a player they appreciated more than the coaching staff. This time though, there was the unparalleled satisfaction of having knocked out the coach/club that didn't want him.
And the 'vengeance' missions continue. Though Eto'o has returned many times to the Bernabeu since leaving Real Madrid, he's never had the chance to lift their holy grail in their own backyard.
And Madrid's powers-that-be will surely be squirming again as the shivering teenager they failed to collect at the airport, then never gave a real chance to, returns to contest the football match that means most to them.
Packed off to Mallorca, the rest was history for Eto'o - and now, with great irony, he returns having won more Champions League medals since his departure than Madrid themselves. One wonders how Madrid fans will evaluate club strategy when finding not one, but three, discards returning - Eto'o being joined by the brilliant Dutch duo of Wesley Sneijder (Inter) and Arjen Robben (Bayern).
Bidding for an unprecedented 'hat-trick' of Champions League final goals, Eto'o is the only of Inter's three Africans likely to start against Bayern. For Mourinho is introducing Mariga slowly, mainly as a late substitute to shore up a game, while the coach is unlikely to put his trust in Muntari after the Ghanaian's horror show in Spain.
A second-half substitute , the midfielder was booked after 82 minutes, played Pique onside for Barca's goal after 84 minutes and then tugged Dani Alves for what looked a clear penalty after 88 minutes. Had that been given, Mourinho's conversation with Muntari could have made those with Mario Balotelli in recent weeks seem like friendly catch-ups.
After Muntari's absence from Ghana's successful Nations Cup campaign for indiscipline and his disaster at Catania
