Ibrahimović to Barça, Eto'o to Inter
Monday, July 27, 2009
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European champions FC Barcelona have completed the €46m signing of Zlatan Ibrahimović from FC Internazionale Milano with Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o going the other way.
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FC Barcelona have signed Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović from FC Internazionale Milano with fellow forward Samuel Eto'o going in the other direction and the UEFA Champions League holders also paying the Italian side €46m.
Top scorer
Ibrahimović, 27, has signed a five-year contract with Barcelona, while the 28-year-old Eto'o also agreed a deal until 2014 at Inter. Signed by Inter from Juventus in 2006, Ibrahimović won Serie A in all his seasons in Milan and the former Malmö FF forward was last season's top scorer in the league with 25 goals. That took his tally with the Nerazzurri to 57 in 88 top-flight games, and he has struck 21 times in 58 appearances for Sweden. "Every player wants to come to Barça but not everybody can," Ibrahimović said. "It's hard to express how I feel at the moment; I'm the happiest man in the world. There are winners in every facet of this team and I want to learn from everybody here."
Eto'o switch
While Ibrahimović was unable to end Inter's 44-year wait to win the European Champions Clubs' Cup during his time in Milan, Eto'o has helped Barcelona lift the trophy twice, scoring in the 2006 and 2009 final wins against Arsenal FC and Manchester United FC respectively. The former Real Madrid CF player joined Barça from RCD Mallorca in 2004 and has won three Liga titles at Camp Nou and struck 130 goals in 200 appearances.
'Extremely happy'
Eto'o also aided Cameroon to two African Cup of Nations titles and 2000 Olympic gold. He is expected to play alongside Diego Milito at Inter, newly signed from Genoa CFC. "I'm extremely happy to join Inter," Eto'o said. "I'm here to work hard and win the Champions League. I want to thank Inter president Massimo Moratti. He is a person with a great heart."
