Former Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has revealed the circumstances in which he decided to sign Samuel Eto'o, who was playing for Barcelona at the time.
During the summer transfer window of 2009, the Cameroonian joined the Italian club in an exchange deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic plus a sum of around 40 million euros.
The inside leaders pulled off an amazing deal by securing the services of one of the best strikers of the time plus cash.
While the Italian coach failed to convince Ibrahimovic to stay at Inter Milan, he decided to sign Samuel Eto'o instead if the Swede decided to go to Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola, who was the coach of the Catalan club at the time, no longer wanted the Cameroonian in his squad and appointed Ibrahimovic instead.
Without looking far, Jose Mourinho regained Barcelona's goal and won the treble the following season, beating Ibrahimovic's new team in the semi-finals with an irresistible goal from Samuel Eto'o.
“Ibrahimovic came into the dressing room and said to me: ‘I am leaving, I have to win the Champions League’.
My assistant was out of their control, because they thought it would be impossible to win without him. His teammates didn't want to lose him either.
I was worried too, but in the end I said: Maybe you will leave and we will win.
Then I said to Marco Branca (Inter Milan's coach at the time): If he wants to go to Barcelona, we will try to sign Eto'o. He and [Diego] Milito can bring something different to the team tactically.The Portuguese technician explained.
