ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - FC Barcelona

Posted by on 09/15/2009

The top teams from Spain and Italy meet this week in the opening set of Champions League fixtures. So it goes without saying that all eyes are on a Swede and a Cameroonian.

The press portrayals and projected images of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto'o do not, it's fair to say, make them out to be the most likeable of characters. The transfer deal that saw a 45m euro-plus player switch in addresses has the potential to turn out like a primary school foreign exchange programme (novelty and relief for the 'parents' to not have to put up with tantrums, followed by annoyance that in all likelihood the replacement is just as odious as version 1.0 -only this time not even satisfied by the promise of fish fingers for tea), but has thus far worked out well for all parties involved. It doesn't feel quite right just yet, but things are coming along and goals are flowing freely.

This week's Barcelona-Inter clash, then, is arguably the most important fixture of the year until the opening 'clasico'. Two players finding their feet -a hard thing to do when you are as tall as the towering Ibrahimovic- in a stadium used to sharing. But is the San Siro that holds both Inter and A.C. Milan big enough for two of the biggest egos in world football?

To be fair to both players, holding oneself in high regard has not affected team performances in the opening fixtures of their respective league seasons. 'Ibra' has scored in his first two appearances for Barça, but has also showed that he can play off another striker and last Sunday provided an assist for Leo Messi. Xavi Hernández has hailed the Swede's abilities in the press.

Fans are, for the moment, positive about his contributions, although he does not extract the same amount of 'pride' in Catalonia as other stars just yet. Full-wall pictures sponsored by Nike in the metro around the Les Corts district seem vaguely pleading -yes, Ronaldinho, Messi and Henry were heavily marketed, but fan support never felt this calculated before. A commanding performance in his old stomping ground, aided by any ill-advised remarks the outspoken Eto'o is sure to make when the wooden spoon wielding Italo-Spanish press pack probe him in the run-up to Wednesday's match, would go a long way to establishing his status.

On the subject of the press: watch out for Ibrahimovic's reaction when he is asked about the new deal that will make Messi the highest paid player in Barcelona history. Bullfighting is illegal in Catalonia, so there are plenty of red rags going around.

The Getafe result at the weekend (0-2 to Barça) put the Azulgrana at the top of the league. Hardly the most inspiring game, but it showed that the team are picking up form. The Champions League could provide the most motivation this year, due to the final's location in the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid's home ground, but there is time for plenty more twists and turns before then.

In particular the fact that Eto'o invariably scores against his old clubs...

Comments

Posted by mohammed shaaba on 09/15/2009

every body know that Eto'o is more variably payer then Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eto'o is more strogle strika then zlatan

Posted by odinakaejim on 09/15/2009

ETO"O WILL DO IT FOR INTER I NO.

Posted by john okon on 09/15/2009

if you ask for my ernest opinion, trading ibra for eto'o in additon to 45 million euro isnt a fair price for the cameroonian striker. considering the input of both players to their former clubs and the success they recorded respectively, i think eto's monetary value ought to have gone higher. eto's goal average is high and he's quite prolific. unless he is happy about the switch, i dont think its a good one

Posted by chris on 09/15/2009

Eto is simply the best!

Posted by Zidane on 09/15/2009

It's going to be a delicious tie. I can't wait!

Posted by Pedrito on 09/15/2009

It is hard to accept this deal,45m + eto'o is something of profit plus success for inter,barca knew it,ibra is very good at his best eto'o is also ranked the same even much better under stress that is what he has extra from ibra,ibra failed to show such last season at old trafford,he is not a charectarised reactor to negativeness,luckly he has got the best backup line that eto'o with messi and xavi,if i could decide for barca i could pay 87m for ronaldo 2 extra than real that shap eto'o and pay bonus world record profit made in football with ibra,after the match check my words and answer with this...

Posted by De SG on 09/15/2009

Funny, I tot everybody knows Eto'o is easily better than Ibra, now why is Barca so desperate? It should be Ibra+45M = Eto'o....

Posted by Simon Karago on 09/15/2009

I wish Eto to score as many goals as his leg wld allow him to show them (Bac) that he got what it takes. How cld they dispose him lyk that evn after bieng the top scorer of the club.

Posted by uyi on 09/15/2009

eto is better dan ibra.we all know dat and he will prove his worth 2moro.watch and see

Posted by benedito ndlovu on 09/15/2009

I am/was a Barca supporter until Eto'o was strangely
swapped with Ibra, in what one can call one of the most thoughtless deals in the history of football! Eto is a proven world class player, who not only hyas scored countless goals for Barca, but won them two champions leagues! i cant remember the likes of Romario, Rivaldo, cruyf, winning two champs leagues and scoring at both for Barcelona! jist like the great man himself said, had his name been Etodinho he would have won many accolades. VIVA Inter and Mourinho!

Posted by Daniel Lungu on 09/15/2009

Pep Guardiola,just hated eto'from the word go.
Whatever differences they had there was no need for him Guardiola to go to the press and say that the good thing for Barca and Eto'was for Eto'to leave.I find it very confusing,annoying mention it.Look at the way managers in England protect their players you can't believe it its simply marvellous.Pep is just some raci...s...t
hiding in the name of doing a good thing to the club.Ibra is as good as Eto'but there was need to offload Eto' in that manner

Posted by DORIS BANGURA on 09/15/2009

i known thatFCBarcelon will wine this game i known what barcelona can do, please every barcelona support should have faith in this game i we are not a afaraide of FILLS ETO'T,I AM FROM SIERRA LEONE

Posted by Reynold on 09/15/2009

Eto, world class finisher. years of over 20 plus goals per season, what a shame on Barcas part.
He's too quick worst danger man for keepers

Posted by elvis njang on 09/15/2009

I know who is Eto,He doesnot talk but makes the difference when it seems to be.Let wait and see his GOAL agin Barca comes Wednesday

Posted by danman on 09/15/2009

How are you gonna call Pep a racist? He was trying to offload Eto'o for Adebayor last year. Pep just wanted a tall, strong striker to make up for all the shorties on the team.

Posted by adams rabi,u yaro on 09/15/2009

im a barce supporter i fell very bad a bout this exchange. becouse eto is this best streker in the word every body no this.then eto is word class finisher.

Posted by Al Zeus on 09/15/2009

Eto was subjected to taunts in Barcelona and therefore Guardiola was right in saying that a change of venue for the Cameroonian would benefit him - on and off the pitch. But 45 M and E'to for Ibrahimovich? Just seems out of synch!
Eto will do better - where he is wanted...

Posted by B.A.Apipwah.USA. on 09/15/2009

Eto,is the best striker in the world and he is gonna prove himself tomorrow.

Posted by Ronny on 09/16/2009

Pep won the Treble last season ,so and showed what he can do, now he is put his ideas , to show what he wanted to do.. lets wait, keep the boos and jeers tille the end.... let him have his time now,, eto will have his too, Mind u Mourinho is backing ETO, not u or me... lets wait to see wat happens..

Posted by Samsech on 09/16/2009

I think this was the best deal ever for Inter. get the better player you want and also get some 45m. who can beat that???

Posted by Kd on 09/16/2009

Eto fine striker, 20+ goals season in, season out. But then the kind of quality Barca possess in their midfield, most strikers would score. But then look at Ibra, he's tall, gives a Plan B to barca of sorts and hence helps to fight off the stalemate barca might have found themselves in, after last season. Teams would start finding them out sooner or later. So plan B is important.
And then come on, we all kno Ibra has got more flair. And barca just love flair players doing tricks n stuff.
So watch out, Ibra has never had the service he's got now. N he's scoring tom.. Surely..
Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Henry and Zlatan... Insane..
Forca Barca..

Posted by Clarenzo on 09/16/2009

Zlatan is a good striker but Et'oo is a better striker.Whether he will score on wednesday or not. Everybody knows Et'oo is the best.

Posted by akynbaju on 09/16/2009

Never blame anybody about the deal of 45m, I know this people knows what they are doing and also have reason for their action. Barcelona always keeps the best, In conjuction with Henry, Iniesta, Xaxi and Messi. Ibra-kar-dar-bra will produce better thing because that is what Eto also depend on when he was still member of Barca

Posted by Ken on 09/16/2009

A direct comparison with regards to monetary valuation is misleading....Ibrahimovic had three years left on his contract whereas Eto'o had just the 12 months....that 45 million makes up for that discrepancy...good players that will strengthen any team though, got to admit that...

Posted by zibrra on 09/16/2009

comparing experience of Eto and Ibra. Eto' experienced in opening diffencssive teams team while Ibra played more of normal game and didn't have to open many diffenssive teams. So Barcelona is not a diffenssive team, but they might be tomorrow. Or might be exposed to Eto' which could be easy to use his speed. For Ibra it is going to be a normal game except the support are going to be good since Barca are sending more player to front. Over all if barca attacks Eto' will definately will score.

Posted by azeez on 09/16/2009

Eto'can soccer with eye cloos,ibra s a not attacker,ibra to m s a midfider,am better than ibra my seif

Posted by andrew bangura on 09/16/2009

pepegadola is simply a racist. he is the most thoughtless manger i have ever seen in the history of football. how can you treat a man who has brught you sucess in the season.any way he is threaten by eto achievement because he has never done what eto is doing. eto is the best striker in the world.

Posted by Destiny on 09/16/2009

i beleieve in Eto Fils, when he was in Real Mallorca, I think he was the highest goal scorer so be it when he got to Barca. Been the most netted striker in La Liga for 3 season has made him incomparable. who's Ibram in Italian league if not league cup what else again. Eto won Barca to glory with mostly a dicisive goals.

Posted by jams on 09/16/2009

eto for sure is way better than ibra and he ll score tom

Posted by solomon on 09/16/2009

ibram is good but eto'o is better becos he has the speed and strength. ibram is more skillful but is a better striker

Posted by liam on 09/16/2009

ibra is valued at 45m because of the length of his contract remaining at inter, whereas etoo is only valued at 15m or so because he will be free to talk to other clubs in 6 months time. so it does make sense, although at 1st glance, it does look crazy. still, i would never have swapped etoo for ibra, or even if i have to, i would pay at most 30m + etoo. and barca and inter both know that is the true value of this deal. difference is inter wants to keep ibra, ie more bargaining power, whereas barca wants to sell etoo (for whatever reason). thus barca ended up paying 45m, a premium of 15m to convince inter to sell. having said all, inter definitely got the better deal. etoo is top class

Posted by Diego Pizaro on 09/16/2009

The champions league draw that brought Inter Milan FC and Barcelona FC together to the same group was not a measure of testing the skills or scoring ability of Eto'o and Z.Ibrahimovich. Let's not push Eto'o to think what he'd never wanted to think about. This is football, sometimes crazy transfers comes in. This is not the first time and is not going to the be the last. It happened Between Chealsea(W.Gallas) and Arsenal(A.Cole) In football transfer, I think two things has to be considered. The market value of the player in question and the number of days remaining in his contract. Even if there would be any exchange of players, these two facts mentioned must be considered. Eto'o might value more than Ibra, but Ibra has more days on his contract. Staying too long in one club to me is not all the best. Look at my man Lassana Diarra. They were selling him like potatoe chips, now he is hot in Real madrid.
Pep can't be a racist he is an African(Egypt)
Eto'o and Toure gave Barca the champ.

Posted by ryan on 09/16/2009

it has nothing to do with who is better, eto was in the last year of contract and Barca needed to spend some money to keep fans happy after the REAL spree. As far as available strikers were concerned Ibra at 45 is a good deal and getting rid of eto's wage bill was a bonus! notice real bought strikers and supporting goal scorers, Barca had to make one big name scorer for the fans, i think the argument could be made that if REAL didn't spend anything, you would have only seen braca open the wallet for a young 19-20yr old striker to replace Henry next season

Posted by ryan on 09/16/2009

Posted by Lincoln on 09/16/2009

I absolutely think Inter got the better of this deal (45 mil?!), but I can still see Barca's reasoning behind it. I've never been a big Ibra fan--he'll score five goals against Genoa, but when it comes to the Champions League or international fixtures, he disappears. I live in San Francisco, so I don't get to watch as much European football as I'd like, but I got to see Inter in person when they came to America and what stood out most to me was A: Zlatan was the biggest player on the pitch--bigger than Viera, even, and B: Zlatan was the most skilled player on the pitch, BY FAR. After watching Barca repeatedly just tap the ball in on corner kicks against Chelsea in the CL, I think Guardiola's reasoning is that having an equally world-class striker who also happens to be 6'5" adds another dimension they may have lacked with Eto'o. Ibra shrinks under the spotlight, but at Barca he is the second or third scoring option, and should thrive in this scenario. Ditto Eto'o. Both sides win...

Posted by Daniel Lungu on 09/16/2009

I would like to disagree with Ryan,who says that there is nothing to compare between eto' and ibra.
Eto'was no.9 at barca and so was ibra at inter.What does this simple illustration mean in football.Both eto' and ibra are goal getters therefore, whatever happens thier job is to score.I know yes, in terms of special abilities we can not compare but still at the end of the day these two have to score no matter what.Ibra,is not goning and can not achieve what eto has achieved at barca even with the so called iniesta,xavi,henery,yaya toure.Just look at the goal eto'scored against Manchester United it was so swift that Vidic still can not believe up to now.We so this Ibra play against Manchester,what was the result both home & away this Ibra was just passing time.Eto'has done far greater than Pep,thats the main reason this manager called Pep decided to offload him.It has nothing to do with wage bill.What about this news that messi will suppass everyone at barca in terms wages,what do you sa

Posted by Didier on 09/16/2009

The truth in all of this is Inter made a rare profit. Like someone said, I would rather pay 87 millions for Ronald than making such a deal. Pep did not want Eto'o from the start! I still remember he was on top of the list, together with Ronaldinho, of players he wanted to offload!! How he stayed there, I do not know!!
Anyway, Inter - Barca will be an interesting game today...

Posted by Domonique on 09/16/2009

Pep should go to sleep. Eto'O is simply a better player in all ramification when compared with Ibra. How can you not compare them when it was a direct swap? No my team in the spanish league is REAL.

Posted by ngozi on 09/16/2009

i believe inter gain more in that transfer than barca.. how can one exchange a player like eto and also losing that kinfd of amount...may be barce dont know what they did......eto is the better...

Posted by joe on 09/16/2009

let`s wait and see!i know the match will be explosive withg all this hype.

Posted by okey nwobodo on 09/16/2009

Most comments here have been emotional. I am a barca fan and was emotional too about Eto'o leaving barca considering his contributions and commitment to barca. You would think Eto'o owns a stake in barca from the way he plays and in the stands. But I am consoled and convinced now he is leaving when the ovation is loudest. He has won everything and stands to win more fans and admiration at Inter. No legend has had to retire at barca if i am correct. They all left at a point. At least Eto'o has not gone into oblivion like some strikers. Todays match will prove who made the most out of the deal. cheers to all fans!!!!

Posted by AUWAL FANDA on 09/16/2009

IKNOW SAMUEL ETO, IS BETTER THAN IBRAHIMOVIC.HE WIN TWO CHAMPIONSHIP AND SCORE UN COUNTABLE GOALS.

Posted by Musitwa Rajab on 09/16/2009

Inter made the deal and so let Mourinho the man shine today 2-1 in favour of International.

Uganda.

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