IBRAHIMOVIC WANTS TO FOLLOW ANCELOTTI AT REAL MADRID ?

It was mentioned here a couple of weeks back, that Paris St Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic wished to follow his ex-Coach Carlo Ancelotti & had sent a message via "third persons" that he would be willing to leave PSG for Real Madrid. The Swede is said to have been "offended" with the signing of another number 9 in the player Cavani & wishes to find the exit door.

Spanish Sports paper "AS" picks up today the news that Ibrahimovic wishes to join Real Madrid. He knows the Club is looking for a Number 9 & that he personally would be able to look for his ultimate Football goal, the Champions League title, under Coach Ancelotti. To help,  it is said that Ibrahimovic would accept to reduce his 14M€ per season salary to fit into the Real Madrid scheme. At his 31 years of age, the PSG forward sees this "train" as his last real big opportunity.

The big obstacle is his character. The player has earned himself a profile of "difficult player" & "star" in all the Clubs he has been. This may now be the pay back moment. Although it is said that Carlo Ancelotti does not see a problem with his possible incorporation & that the Italian Coach has been able to "tame the Beast" & bring out the best of forward with plenty of goals in France.

Today the same media source publish that the Sergio Aguero option is still open. The Manchester City Argentine forward has never totally been discarded at the Spanish Club & would be better placed than Ibrahimovic if possible.

Either way, at this point, there are numerous factors in play. One is Gonzalo Higuian, Real Madrid ask for 40M€ to help finance signing operations & at this moment the only said offer that exists for the player is 30M€ from Italian Club Napoles. Also there is the Gareth Bale desires of Real Madrid, at this point in a stalemate situation but could take-off again at any moment. The signing of Bale by Madrid could cost anything from 80-100M€, Bale would be a priority & would shut the door at other said signings. 

Interesting weeks ahead, stay tuned!

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TRANSFER RUMOURS | ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC AT REAL MADRID ?

Its rumour time folks in Spanish Football & in reference to this post, REAL MADRID CF. With Coach Mourinho announcing that he is staying for next season, the rumours are building as the Club begins planning for next season.

Already there is a "black list" of 7 names that many say will be leaving the Club at the end of the season for a "new Football home" next season. The voiced names are:

• Sahin
• Altintop
• Carvalho
• Lass Diarra 
• Kaká
• Gonzalo Higuian
• Goalkeeper Adan ( he asked to leave to find playing minutes elsewhere) 

• Pepe has caused some doubts at the top levels, but may stay.
  
  

  

  Ibrahimovic

But what about "new blood", that is, new signings. There are a few names everyday flying about, but what about this one according to Spanish online paper "elconfidencial": ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC? Yes you read correctly, the 30 year old Swede currently at AC MILAN.

According to the source a few weeks back Mourinho called Zlatan & asked him if he would contemplate playing at Real Madrid. Ibrahimovic supposedly said OK. To which - & according to the news source - Mourinho ( Real Madrid ) maybe already negotiating.

AC Milan will make it very difficult, but if Real Madrid puts into the operation Kaka? Higuain? This last name is a sticky as Higuain is adored by Real Madrid members & fans & may cause a bit of a local revolt. But Mourinho seems to have decided on Benzema over the Argentine & Higuain wishes to go were his can play regularly.

Stay tuned for more news in coming weeks. 

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AC MILAN MAKES OFFICIAL THE SIGNING - TRANSFER OF ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC FROM FC BARCELONA

FC BARCELONA has transferred forward ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC to AC MILAN after 5 hours of intense negotiations this afternoon with all parties involved. A year ago Barça paid Inter Milan 45M€ + Samuel Eto´o (= 75M€) to sell him tonight for 24M€. Surreal turn of events in 24 hours as yesterday the price was 40M€, but there is more to this than first meets the eyes. In the future we may really know what happened to the player, with Guardiola & the Club.

So much was the desire of FC Barcelona Coach Guardiola to have the Swede out that the final deal goes like this, according to the very little information that has been given to media at this early stage of the official announcement by AC milan on its website:

• Loaned out to AC Milan for this season.
• AC Milan are then obliged at the end of this season to buy the player
• The transfer price is 24M€
• A 4 year contract.
• Ibrahimovic takes a salary cut to around 8M€ +/- from 12M€ for Milan; as of next year when officially bought by the Italian Club.
• AC Milan pays the original 12M€ salary of Ibrahimovic this season while on loan. This may explain the 24M€ transfer figure.

This is the basic news filtering out. The small line details will emerge exactly in the coming hours. I will re-correct the info below in a "LATEST" note if needed.

Ibrahimovic left the Barça offices still claiming that he still does not know why Guardiola wishes him to leave the Club. Stay tuned!

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FC BARCELONA AC MILAN RETURN TO LOAN OPTION ( WITH TWIST) FOR IBRAHIMOVIC

The ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC situation with FC BARCELONA & negotiations with AC MILAN continue with new developments according the Barcelona based Sports papers. Apparently all sides have returned to the original formula of a LOAN, but with a twist.

The idea now is that Barça LOAN Ibrahimovic to AC Milan this year with an obligatory clause that forces Milan to buy the player at the end of the season. Thus Barça saves itself paying this season the players elevated "salary" & Milan pays Barça 30M€ ( not 40M€) for the buy. The payment would be in three parts so that Milan can pay without financial stresses.

There is a meeting scheduled this afternoon at 16.30 (Sp. Time) that will discuss all this & we may get the final OK ( or not ) from the player.

Stay tuned! Tweet

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FC BARCELONA 2010 | AC MILAN WILLING TO PAY 40M€ FOR IBRAHIMOVIC?

The news comes out of Italy, from a Silvio Berlusconi owned “Mediaset” website, which informs that what was originally a LOAN option negotiation yesterday for FC BARCELONA player ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has now become a BUY option with a price of 40M€. Things changed today as negotiations continued between AC MILAN & FC BARCELONA to find a way to make a Ibrahimovic transfer operation possible.

According to the Italian source, AC Milan is willing to pay 40M€ for Ibrahimovic in three annual payments: 15M€ the 1ºst yr, 15M€ the 2ºyr & 10M€ the 3ºrd yr. FC Barcelona agrees with this & has given AC Milan permission to negotiate directly with the player where the biggest obstacle exists: his 12M€ a year salary. With Italian tax rates higher than in Spain, Milan would have to pay 22M€ a year gross & that is impossible for the Club. Therefore, the Italian Club is negotiating with Ibrahimovic to take a cut in his salary to “help” out Milan carry out the transfer operation.

In this situation, everyone loses out apparently as Barça gets back 40M€ from the initial 75M€ global investment (cash + Eto´o), Ibrahimovic would have to accept an important salary cut & Milan will have to make a heavy investment effort that will take three years to pay off. However, I get the feeling that AC Milan wins in this situation in reality, but that is another story for another day.

The “bad feeling” between Coach Guardiola & Ibrahimovic widened yesterday into “unsolvable” positions when the Barça player publically commented to Italian TV after the “Gamper Trophy” game against Milan that Guardiola had only spoken to him twice in 6 months & doesn’t understand what the problem is with his Coach, while Guardiola responded that if that is so there is a logical reason & he knows it. It is obvious that Giuardiola wants Ibrahimovic out & fast, while the player forced things yesterday with his comments.

Spanish media sources are saying that Ibrahimovic is evaluating the situation tonight & all parties will get back to talks tomorrow to continue with negotiations. At this point, it looks as if Ibrahimovic may well go to AC Milan & could even be officially presented within 24 hours of his OK, but there is also the possibility that there will be no deal & Guardiola would have to live the start of the 2010 – 2011 season with a mayor dressing room & Club problem.

Stay tuned as things are coming to a conclusion. We will soon know which side the scale tips. As with Samuel Eto´o it could be a question of "feeling" for Guardiola on Zlatan:

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JOAN GAMPER TROPHY 2010 | FC BARCELONA 1 (3) DEFEATS AC MILAN 1 (1)

FC BARCELONA has defeated AC MILAN 3-1 on penalties AFTER the match finished in a 1-1 draw, to take the "JOAN GAMPER TROPHY" which traditionally showcases to all the Barça members the new season squad.

FC Barcelona took the opportunity to thank its appreciated ex-player & star RONALDINHO who returned to the ground, City & Club that made him the World Nº1 & gave him so many titles, as he did to Barça. The Brazilian circled the "Camp Nou" to a standing ovation where he received the thanks & the warmth of the Barça fans who haven´t forgotten his contribution to the Clubs history.

His ex-team-mates wanted to thank Ronaldinho as well & they invited the AC Milan player to join them in the pre-match FC BARCELONA starting line-up team photo

As you can see ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC started after both Barça & AC Milan spent most of the day negotiating the possibility of the Swede moving to Milan. The final outcome is that discussions will continue tomorrow were a LOAN & NOT a transfer buy is the viable option.
A very complex situation that may or may not come to a good port & that we all need to wait & see how things develop tomorrow.

The 1ºst half finished in a 0-0 score with an offside Ibrahimovic goal included, plus a slow yet well organized Milan. Barça who played their traditional touch-ball game also showed lack of "spring in their heels" as many players are still working to find their top form.

The 2ºhalf saw changes with Ibrahimovic taking a "break" & stars like Pique, Alves, Busquets, Pique, Pedro, Messi & Bojan came on to get a run. This gave Barça some freshness early & in the 48th min DAVID VILLA scored his first goal for Barça after he nicked in a ball from another signing Adriano. However, while Barça missed some chances two AC Milan veterans showed their magic in the 68th min when INZAGHI volleyed a superb goal from a Seedrof pass that was just like the old days. The match finished in a 1 - 1 draw & both sides went to the penalty shoot-out stage.

Here Barça keeper PINTO was the man of the moment as he made 3 great saves to finally give his team the victory 3-1 on penalties. An entertaining game full of emotions for Ronaldinho & uncertainty as the future of Ibrahimovic is currently being "played" out. Tweet

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FC BARCELONA 2010 | MASCHERANO CLOSER IBRAHIMOVIC UP IN THE AIR

The key message is that LIVERPOOL FC Argentine midfielder JAVIER MASCHERANO will not play in tonight’s Premier League game against Manchester City, instead of the official Club announcement that Liverpool has rejected the initial offer from FC BARCELONA. The offer is said to be 15M€ + variables + player Hleb which is estimated to be around 20M€ +/-, an offer that Liverpool has rejected “for the moment”.

FC Barcelona has come to an agreement with Mascherano, but needs to make an offer to Liverpool FC before the Spanish Club can count on the services of the Argentine. The English Club has left open the door with their announcement that Mascherano will not play tonight thus supposing that Barça will soon be making a second & better offer. In my opinion, everything looks set for Javier Mascherano to sign for FC Barcelona before the closing of the transfer window; it is just a matter of agreeing to the “right” price.

On other front, AC MILAN has acknowledged that they have entered conversions with FC BARCELONA for forward ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC. The Italian Club travels to Barcelona to play Barça next Wednesday in their “season friendly opener for their members” – The Gamper Trophy – where both Clubs will discuss face to face the future of the Swedish International. Stay tuned! Tweet

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IBRAHIMOVIC - ROBINHO SWAP OFFER?

While IBRAHIMOVIC hangs out next to a swimming pool in Miami on holidays, ROBINHO is concentrated with the Brazilian National Team in South Africa awaiting the World Cup to kick off. What both do however share & have in common is that neither of their respective Clubs wish them back for next season. Even though FC BARCELONA says that Ibrahimovic is not on sale, the incorporation of Spanish International striker David Villa tells you a different thing. The Club has "unofficially" priced the Swede at around 50M€ which is a bit steep except if you can find an interesting financial formula.

MANCHESTER CITY & their Italian Coach Mancini would be happy to have Ibrahimovic at the English Club & again working with his old Coach. They also have Robinho who was on loan at Brazilian Club Santos until recently & wish to get him out of Manchester City. The English Club knows that Barça don’t want Ibrahimovic, that Barça are looking for a left wing attacker & that Barça attempted last season to sign Robinho. AHA, THE ANSWER! A proposed swap between ROBINHO – IBRAHIMOVIC that would “kill” two birds with one stone.

But hold on, its not so easy. FC Barcelona celebrates Club Presidential elections next month & the new President & his team may not wish to sign a “problematic” Robinho. Plus the new incoming Presidential team may want to talk with Barça Coach Guardiola to reconfirm what he thinks & speak to Ibrahimovic to see what he feels about it all.

Stay tuned! Meanwhile, imagine that Robinho has an outstanding World Cup with lots of goals & dazzling “effects”? Will Manchester City wish to swap? Ahhh Football, everyday you learn something new :o) Tweet

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WORLD FOOTBALL | SOCCER | FINANCE : 5 SPANISH BASED PLAYERS IN "THE WORLD´S BEST PAID PLAYERS " LIST

Source: Sp Ftball Sprts Blog: /
Ever wondered, just because you’re a curious person, how much you’re Football – Soccer – idols makes a year in money, that is, what they actually earn taking into account salary, bonus, sponsorship deals…etc. ? The prestigious American Financial Magazine “Forbes” continues with its look into the Football – Soccer – World publishing the list of highest earners. Yesterday (& posted below) Forbes examined the Clubs, today they put the focus on the players, with 5 Spanish based players on the top list.

The 35 year old Englishman David Beckham still reins Nº1 with earning of 40M US$ (30M€) thanks to his multiple sponsorship deals. He is followed by Portuguese & REAL MADRID player CRISTIANO RONALDO with earnings of 30M US$ (22,5M€) & third is Brazilian & team-mate KAKÁ with income of 25M US$ (18,7M€). Three other Spanish based players are also mentioned, all from FC BARCELONA, who in the Messi case, he may be the highest salary earner in World Football - Soccer - but falls in the sponsorship area relative to those here mentioned.

The Top List of players is then made up by Ronaldinho, THIERRY HENRY (FCB), MESSI (FC), Frank Lampard, Terry, ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC (FCB), Steven Gerrard y Wayne Rooney. Tweet

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VIDEO: IBRAHIMOVIC FREE KICK GOAL AGAINST ZARAGOZA

Due to popular demand, SFS posts the ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC free
kick goal from yesterdays FC Bareclona 6-1 win over Real Zaragoza.
The Swede has already 7 goals in the Spanish Liga. Enjoy this
"cracker":

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FC BARCELONA: IBRAHIMOVIC DELIGHTED TO HAVE SCORED HIS FIRST "LIGA" GOAL

FC BARCELONA star signing for 2009-2010 ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC

has commented to media that he is delighted & "relieved" to have
finally scored his first goal with Barcelona. The Swede has promised
that there will be more in the future.

Spanish & Barcelona based daily "Sport" add some HUMOUR to the

situation & have dedicated their cartoon section "Futbolitis" to the
Ibrahimovic declarations:








Translated:
"Scoring my first goal with Barça has served to get a weight of my back"

"Exactly this weight"!

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FC BARCELONA: IBRAHIMOVIC THEIR NEW Nº9 (VIDEO OF PRESENTATION)

The official presentation of ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC by FC
BARCELONA went behind schedule because their “ex-Lion”
(Eto´o) was still biting up to the very last second. The legal
formalities needed documents from Eto´o that came late
& put the show behind its schedule. About 50.000 fans
went to the “Camp Nou” to have a glimpse at their new
Nº9 who has signed for 5 years & will be operated tomorrow
of his hand facture, something that is minor & will not delay
too much his incorporation to his new team.

The man was humble in his presentation, full of ambition & thanked
everyone involved in the complex transfer operation ( from Inter
President Moratti , Barça President Laporta & his team , his
manager etc.) to get him to the team of his choice, were he
comes to learn, to better himself & give his best profile.

SFS welcomes Zlatan to Spanish Football & thanks him as well for he
can only lift further the “Liga” level & give all fans more joy in the
Sport they enjoy.



Here is the "ZLATAN SONG" you can learn & sing a long to:

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ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC ARRIVES AT BARCELONA

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC arrived today at Barcelona to shut a few
“little” points in the contract with FC BARCELONA that will unite
him to the Club for the next five years. Tomorrow Ibrahimovic is
expected to undergo the compulsory medical examine & be
presented officially in the afternoon as a new Barça player to
media & fans.

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ETO´O - IBRAHIMOVIC TRANSFERS: FC BARCELONA PRESIDENT LAPORTA WAS CONFIDENT

No it’s not Zlatan Ibrahimovic, its FC BARCELONA President Joan
Laporta showing his stuff while he visited his team pre-season
training at Marlow (London) earlier today. If we are to take the
images & the smiles as an indication of the man’s mood one will
have to say his happy. That is, happy to have finally got rid of
Samuel Eto´o, & pleased to have secured Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his
place. Now the man can stick it up the enemy again. As Mel Brooks
once said "It´s great to be King again".

There are a few minor details still left between all parts involved
in the Inter-Eto´o - Barça – Ibrahimovic operation to be dealt with
but its 99.9% all shut. We suspect that President Joan Laporta
already knew it this very morning. Not bad skills from the man as
well.

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FC BARCELONA: IBRAHIMOVIC A MATTER OF HOURS

It´s a question of hours, sometime during today that INTER MILAN
& FC BARCELONA will announce on their Web sites that ZLATAN
IBRAHIMOVIC is officially a Barça player.

Today SAMUEL ETO´O is expected to do his part & sign for the next 5
years for 60M€ with Inter Milan, & that moment Ibrahimovic will
receive a call to catch a plane from Boston (USA) & Fly to Barcelona.

It is the highest transfer operation in FC Barcelona History with a

suspected value that ranges from 80 - 92M€ according on which source

you believe: 50M€ in cash + Eto´o (estimated value 35M€) + Hleb
(value 7M€) = Total 92M€.

Stay tuned for the official announcement later.

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INTER MILAN & ETO´O BACK ON COURSE AFTER "TECHNICAL PROBLEMS"

A new chapter in the space of hours with the Inter Milan – Samuel Etoó
– FC Barcelona – Ibrahimovic transfer operation. According to all the
news from Italy & picked up locally, there has been a significant
advance in the negotiations after Inter Milan Directives & Eto´o
representative unblocked certain issues (see below post) the hours
ago put the whole deal in danger, forcing FC Barcelona to make a
supposed 75M€ offer for Ibrahimovic.
























The situation at this moment is the following:

1. Eto´o will not demand that FC Barcelona pay him 10M€ to end
his contract. This issue was the big problem as Barça refuses to pay
2. Instead to recompense that loss the player asks Inter Milan to pay
him 60M€ for the next 5 years
3. To make up that increase, Inter will up the transfer price of
Ibrahimovic for FC Barcelona. That is, Barça will pay the difference.
If it is true that under the pressure Barça offered 75€ for Ibrahimovic,
that has sent a message that money exists thus Inter will ask for more
(naturally the unofficial version)

Everything now points that Samuel Eto´o will end up at Inter Milan
& thus open the doors of FC Barcelona to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The
Italian Club & Eto´o´s representative will meet tomorrow again to
hopefully shut the deal once & for all - hopefully! Tweet

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ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC TO FC BARCELONA: NOW IT DEPENDS ON ETO´O

Hi, back from a weekend in the countryside, back to the Spanish
Football posting & the FC BARCELONA news last Friday that with
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC both were close to commencing a new
relationship. Here is the latest situation: FC BARCELONA & INTER
MILAN has agreed to the idea of 45M€ + SAMUEL ETO ´O + a one
year loan (with buying option) of ALEXANDER HLEB. So what’s
stopping that it be officially announced & sealed ? The answer is
Samuel Eto´o.

The Cameroon forward needs to shut his particular deal with Inter
Milan, something that will commence as of tomorrow with face to
face meetings with Barça Directives & later with Inter Milan to
work out an agreement. Samuel Eto´o – according to “AS” – will not
make things easy for all the parties concerned as he will ask the
Italians 15M€ in transfer commissions & then a 10M€/year contract.
Of course, it’s a two way street as Zlatan Ibrahimovic will have
to sit down with FC Barcelona & negotiate his conditions as well,
but the Swede will be easier than Samuel Eto´o.

Having written this most media observers believe the deal will
finally go through as FC Barcelona do not want Eto´o & Inter Milan
is the only existing option & Club with Champions participation &
sufficient Football prestige that wish his services for next season.

Stay tuned!

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FC BARCELONA & INTER MILAN SHUT AGREEMENT FOR IBRAHIMOVIC: 40M€ + SAMUEL ETO´O & LOAN OF HLEB. GOODBYE DAVID VILLA

FC BARCELONA has come to an agreement with INTER MILAN for the
transfer of ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC as advanced last night & confirmed
this morning by Barcelona based daily “Sport” & TV news media,
although we haven’t as yet an official Club statement. Everything
occurred last night when Barça President Laporta & his team made a
stop from the Ukraine at Milan to have dinner with Inter President
Moratti where the operation was shut.

Beforehand two important things had to happen. Firstly, VALENCIA
CF rejected a 43M€ offer from Barça for Spanish International DAVID
VILLA, & SAMUEL ETO ´O accepted to leave the Club & be
transferred. With these two prerequisites in place FC BARCELONA
offered INTER MILAN 40M€ + SAMUEL ETO´O, plus the loan for one
year of its player ALEXANDER HLEB for the Inter Milan & Swedish
International ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC. The Italian Champion Club
accepted the offer with the authorization of its Coach Mourinho &
Ibrahimovic is said to have reduced his economic pretensions to be
able to land at “Camp Barça”. Now the final details of the operation
will be shut within the next 72 hours to make it all formal & 100%
water tight that will lead to an official Club presentation next week
at Barcelona of their "new" player.

All this means that DAVID VILLA has missed the second great
train of opportunity to play in one of Spain´s great Clubs. Firstly,
the operation shut with Real Madrid was foiled in the last minute by
Valencia, & secondly Valencia refused FC Barcelona´s offer of 43M€
wanting instead something above 50-55M€. In both cases, Real Madrid
& FC Barcelona had substitute plans & decided not to wait & be
“pushed around” to exercise their alternative operations in Karim
Benzema & Zlatan Ibrahimovic respectively. David Villa will be
steaming & angry with Valencia CF, but many suspect & confess that
the Spanish International was not pro-active enough in both said
cases & didn’t do enough to force the situation at Valencia, plus
many media sources blame the terrible management of his
representative Jose Luis Tamago, something that Villa should now
solve.

With Samuel Eto´o saying yes to the Inter Milan operation, FC
Barcelona avoids an explosive situation & avoids Eto´o turning up to
the beginning of pre-season training next Monday to confront his
now ex-Coach Josep Guardiola. Samuel Eto´o finishes his “golden
period” at "Camp Barça" in a not to glamorous fashion but at least he
goes to a Top European Team that is in Champions, a Club that will
pay him his economic pretensions & allow a new opportunity for
Eto´o to continue triumphing in World Football.

In the coming days we will receive more information of this lighting
transfer operation & receive the comments from Club directives &
from the actual players involved. Spanish Football gets another World
Class player that only lifts its level further & makes the beginning of
the new LIGA season more worthwhile & exciting for all Football fans.

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