“He's uglier than Beckham, but he plays football better.” Eto'o took off at Mallorca, where he beat the agent and fought the coach of his life

Growing up hard.

We somehow forgot Samuel Eto’o. Recently, the new president of the Cameroon Football Federation recalled himself – he gave a long interview to The Athletic, in which he talked about the prospects of all African football:

“The African country is quite could have won the World Cup. Africans are very talented, Europeans to a lesser extent. It’s simple enough. It’s a couple of matches. Why is this suddenly impossible? It doesn’t seem impossible. Again, almost all African players are very talented. ”

Sam was wildly talented himself, but had a complex personality. We all understood this from Anji, but the first difficulties appeared much earlier.

Perez couldn’t stand Eto’o due to his character. But there is a version that the striker was kicked out of Real Madrid because of his skin color

In the fall of 1999, young Samuel Eto’o sat quietly in the office of Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sansa. There was no reason for a funny conversation – Espanyol did not want to sign the 19-year-old Real forward for another season. Madrid wanted to add a player to Betis and Rayo – refused again. good: considered an egoist, and the fans called him “the black devil.” But not because of the gorgeous game or goals – it’s just that Samuel liked to command partners more than to run and work. They could not stand him – and the coach of Espanyol, Miguel Brindisi, promised to run away from the team if the Cameroonian lease was extended.

a lot of problems, “- later said Espanyol defender Mauricio Pochettino.

In Real Madrid, many believed in Sam anyway. Only now the dreams of the board of directors in Eto’o’s case did not matter – the guy’s character could not stand Florentino Perez. The future president of the club dreamed of getting rid of the impudent teenager.

However, there is another version. In 2015, the former agent Santos Marquez did not hesitate to say that Sam was sold only because of his skin color: Perez could not have seen a black guy as the main star of Real Madrid. The agent said the same about Claude Makelele. “Real” did not pay any attention to the words of Marquez.

In 2000, Sam didn’t care much about reasons. “Sorry, but you are not part of our plans. We decided to sell you. Take your things and wait for the news. ”With these words, Flo deprived Eto’o of his dream of becoming a star in Madrid.

Samuel jumped up from his chair and slammed door with all anger. No one at Real Madrid could afford such impudence towards the president. Samuel dared. In 1997, President Lorenzo Sans personally promised Eto’o to make him the world’s top striker. Perez broke all hopes – later Sam even called Florentino an abuser.

They managed to get rid of Eto’o only in the summer of 2000: Mallorca came for him with a priority right of redemption for 4.5 million euros. And Perez kept half of the rights to himself – in case of more interesting proposals in the future. This was a common precaution.

Eto’o played on loan at Mallorca for six months. Spoiler alert: it was hot.

The great Luis Aragones became Sam’s teacher. He fought Eto’o in training and made him work hard super successful sold important players – defender Marcelino (to Newcastle) and the young striker Dani Garcia (at Barça). The team has slipped from a European contender to a strong, but middle peasant.

Sam was taken to Garcia’s place. “I went grocery shopping and met fans a lot,” the player recalled in 2016 for Goal. – They came up to me and asked about my family and health. After Real Madrid all this seemed unusual – people were not going to strip me down to my underpants and beg for autographs.

They were kind to me. Mallorca gave me something that you will never get out of my head. This was my family. I was happy. ”

Samuel did not count the money. Real Madrid took over 50% of the salary: Eto’o received about 3 million euros a year – like Fernando Morientes. For the first training session at Mallorca, the player rode a red Ferrari.

“For the first time in my life I was able to touch a Ferrari. My salary at that time was barely enough for housing – and Sam spent such amounts every day. Somehow the guys and I wanted to give him a small cake for his birthday. He laughed and took everyone to the most elite restaurant in the city. He probably doesn’t remember that day – but from that moment on I often worked as a taxi driver for him, ”former partner Roberto Merino recalled in an interview with AS.

Samuel there has always been a love of luxury. Mallorca coach Fernando Vasquez, one of Cooper’s replacement, called Sam the dumbest spender in his life. The partners adored the Cameroonian for this, and because of his love for dear life, he often found himself in ridiculous situations.

After the take at Rayo’s goal, Sam got drunk and lost his expensive necklace in practice the next morning. Instead of training, Eto’o ran around the base looking for him. The staff later joined in. Vasquez was furious – he deprived Sam of the award and suspended from training.

Samuel did not pay attention to the coach’s screams – he was very upset about the loss of the necklace. And three hours later I found him in the bathroom at home.

“My heart is laughing involuntarily,” continues Merino. – We’re talking about an ugly duckling with a very big heart. He helped us. The coaches couldn’t work with him – and the players were delighted. Mallorca has become a big family. But during the game, he became a completely different person. We called him the new Ronaldo. ”

The president of Mallorca Alemani was strained by the player’s behavior – decent coaches avoided working with Sam because of for its problematic nature. Vasquez fled to Betis and presented the president with a difficult choice: a coach or a new locker-room leader with great prospects and the same impudence. Mallorca finished the season in 10th place thanks to Diego Tristan’s 18 goals. Eto’o only scored six.

Alemani was preparing to get rid of the player – but in July, Luis Aragones came. At that time it was a huge success: then Aragones had already become a legend for Atlético, and it was not yet very successful to work in Barcelona and Valencia.

“The coaches were afraid to take on his upbringing. The fans have begged us to ransom Samuel. They loved Sam very much – but that summer we were lucky with Aragones. He accepted our offer. Only he. All of Spain was talking about the lively Cameroonian teenager from Mallorca. And Luis wanted to test himself, “Alemani admitted in 2014.

ride a club car. Two days later, the coach banned the jewelry. A week later, Aragones imposed fines for excessive amounts of alcohol in the blood and training controversies. So Eto’o had to plow for the first time in his career.

Sam quickly hated Aragones’ methods: he ignored the coach for a week. They were at enmity – and in the end they even fought. The coach called Sam a lazy turtle – he got turned on and sent Aragones. They were hardly separated. The player later cooled down and apologized.

“Arago he came to me and told me that he and Samuel had waved, ” Alemani recalled. – I was preparing for another dismissal. But there was a smile on Louis’ face. He told me that only with such idiots “Mallorca” is able to become stronger. ”

The next day the coach gave the guy an ultimatum – either hard training or Eto’o will sit on the bench until the end of the contract. Sam overcame himself and made concessions. He didn’t want to lose everything again and let down the Mallorca fans whom he loved so much. And I didn’t even want to return to Real Madrid.

“Eto’o never played without Aragones,” says Merino. – Louis was able to cope with his impudent temperament. Aragones fell in love with him as a son and blinded him from a humorous egoist to the main striker in the world. Their relationship was special – only Louis could call Sam a lazy idiot in a stadium with thousands of people. ”

In December, the conflict between the coach and the player heated up to the limit. On the road with Zaragoza, the rivals mercilessly beat Sam on the legs – and the fans called him a monkey. In the second half, Eto’o broke down and wound up. He walked into every joint and ignored the partners. Aragones decided to replace the player.

Samuel was furious. “You idiotic old man! Open your eyes – I was the best today. These fools don’t help me at all – change them. Not me! You don’t understand anything, “the Cameroonian did not hold back, leaving the field.

Aragones heard everything. “Hey puppy! Who do you think you are? You must keep your mouth shut after every decision I make. Heard? I bit my tongue and continue making grimaces on the bench! Brat, you should talk to me like your own mom. We both babysit you like a child, “the coach shouted with a red face.

” He brought me up tough, “Sam confessed. in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport in 2019. – We could take and fight in training. It was a path from hate to love. Louis kindled a passion in me. He made a man out of me. I consider him my second father. Luis Aragones is the head coach of my career. ”

Aragones won that battle and earned Sam’s respect. Louis asked Alemani not to fine the player for insolence and talked to the guy in private. After that, the Cameroonian already called the coach great. Eto’o is completely dedicated to work.

Eto’o was hard without Aragones. At first he constantly got into scandals, but then he found his coach again

Samuel finally began to reveal himself with Aragones: he scored 11 goals and together with his “Mallorca” again took a record third place in the championship.

“Sam is not playing at full capacity,” Aragones swore anyway. – I know this guy’s skills: he can run faster and hit harder. I’m not very happy with his performance. Samuel has to show me his full potential in the Champions League. Otherwise, his training will become much tougher. He needs to understand that. ”

“ We were excited. Luis and I have become a real family. Playing in the Champions League was the goal of our hard work off the field. He motivated us. I turned down many – for the sake of Mallorca and my coach, I was ready for anything. We wanted to win the Champions League, ”Sam recalled in 2014.

But in the summer of 2001, Eto’o’s ambitious plans fell through. Aragones was called to rescue his native Atlético – for the first time in 65 years the team ended up in Segunda. “Mallorca” did not argue with the coach and let him go without a scandal. It was Samuel who took the loss hardest of all.

“Eto’o was discouraged,” said former defender Mikel Boades. – This is the coach of his whole life. Samuel understood Aragones – but felt abandoned. The players couldn’t help it – Luis was willing to do anything for Atlético.

Sam started drinking a lot. Two months later, he got into a scandal – he caught agent Daniel Argibeot in bed with his sister and beat him up with friends in the evening. At the end, Eto’o took off his shoes from Argibeot – in Cameroon this is considered a sign of mercy. Sam hushed it up with money.

The career of a 20-year-old Cameroonian was slowly sinking.

Samuel didn’t think about football and didn’t talk to anyone. Mallorca lost match after match and fought for survival instead of titles. In the Champions League, departure from the group – although still slammed Arsenal with Anri and Pires in the composition.

But Sam didn’t help at all. On the contrary, he created more and more problems.

In an interview, Sam was asked about the future. Eto’o was a little drunk – and because of a series of questions about Aragones, he snapped at the journalist Bartolomé Terrace.

After the interview, Sam walked over to Terrace’s car and quietly said, “I asked you not to talk about him. You are a worthless journalist, and I am ready to beat you up for your worthless questions. Mark my words: don’t come back – or you won’t leave here alive. This is the final warning. ”

Mallorca had to issue a public apology. Eto’o tried to hush up the story again – but this time intervened BBC. Alemani’s patience ran out – he wanted to sell an inadequate player at least for some money. For Eto’o came only from England.

And again the new coach helped – in 2002 Gregorio Manzano took a chance with Mallorca.

Manzano believed in Sam and saw him at the center of his project. “He’s uglier than Beckham, but he plays football better than him,” the coach repeated. – He is the leader of the team for many, many years. Sam combines everything you need. Real Madrid will soon be biting their elbows over the loss of such a player. ”

Manzano made Eto’o the main forward in the 4-4- 2 and turned into a free artist. Samuel found language with a new coach and again began churning out goals. In matches, he played to the left and often changed positions with the second striker Walter Pandiani.

The Mallorca shone again. Samuel too. He scored 14 goals, Mallorca knocked Real Madrid out of the Spanish Cup (5-1 in two games) and moved up to 9th in La Liga. But this was not the main performance of the team that season.

In May Manzano’s team came to play with Real Madrid in the championship and beat the hosts with the same score, but in one match. Sam returned to the Santiago Bernabeu and turned defenders of the home team in clowns. Morning Marca came out with the headline: “Eto’o made Hierro finish football.”

Mallorca was so good that after the defeat of Real »Took the Spanish Cup. Eto’o began to show the first signs of growing up: he paid full meals and travel for fans to the finals. After the victory, Sam ran to the stands and burst into tears.

Fans continued to love Eto’o despite his insolent demeanor. On the Mallorca bus, a song written by them in honor of the Cameroonian was playing . Sam was called the panther – for the harshness of his character. Samuel liked it – it stuck to the end of his career.

The Cameroonian after that had a disastrous start to the 03/04 season and the return of Aragones. Sam worked with his beloved coach again om – and despite the weak results, he considers that season to be special. “He will always be my football father. We haven’t won a single trophy – but working with Luis is always a pleasure. I just love Aragones, “Samuel admitted with a smile.

In 2019, SER Catalunya asked Samuel to share the most iconic moment in his life. Instead of recollecting the treble with Inter or the transfer to Anji, he talked about the most important conversation in his career:

“Louis called me to him after workout. He wanted to talk. The offer surprised me – he usually swears right on the field. His face was as serious as possible, and it frightened even more. We sat down at the old table. His silence is worse than screams. So I just kept quiet.

And then he abruptly began: “Negrito, are you going to become a great player? Or will you be an idiot forever? It’s time to play with the best. ”

I couldn’t say anything. I was shocked. No, I’m not going to play with another coach. Here he is – my coach. But what am I supposed to say? Then he took the phone and dialed an acquaintance. It seemed to me that Louis just drank too much.

“Hey Chiki. Are you going to win there? If yes, then I know a guy who will make Barcelona a champion. His name is Samuel. He sits next to me and will soon become the best striker in the world. ”

Exactly two weeks later I became a Barcelona player.

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