Eto'O in Russia! New Anzhi striker signs 3-year deal worth $45 mln

Samuel Eto'o has said he's "happy" to be in Russia. The Cameroon striker holding his first media conference since his 30-million-dollar move from Inter to Anzhi Mahachkala this week

Samuel Eto'o the best 2010-2011

Eto'o exit wrecks inter - Thiago

ITALY international Thiago Motta has revealed that the departure of Samuel Eto'o to Anzhi Makhachkala last summer effectively signalled the end of his tenure at Inter.

The Nerazzurri have been struggling to find their best form this term after dominating Serie A for several years, and Motta, who left Inter for Paris Saint-Germain in January, believes that the exit of Eto'o was a crucial moment in their downturn fortunes.

"I think that the departure of Eto'o has hugely affected the team. He was the one who could always make the difference. Of course they now have Diego Milito back in form, who is very dangerous as well. However, Eto'o had that little bit extra," Thiago Motta was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The exit of Eto'o played a big role in my decision to leave. I felt as if my era at Inter had come to an end. I needed a new challenge, and have found just that here at Paris Saint-Germain."

The 29-year-old Thiago Motta signed a contract until the summer of 2015 with PSG.

Footballer Eto'o launches Africa's fifth MVNO

Piggyback operators named for brands or even celebrities could be big business in Africa Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto'o has become the first African celebrity to launch his own mobile brand.

The launch of SET Mobile on January 21, the first day of the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, is one of a growing number of mobile virtual network operators (MVNO).

MVNOs are mobile brands that piggy-back off existing networks, buying wholesale from one or more mobile operators.

In SET Mobile's case, it is understood to be buying its services from Orange Cameroon and is not, as it seemed to advertise at its launch, Cameroon's third mobile operator.

Eto'o's brand targets his younger fans. "Our company will provide a unique quality of service and will make the difference by low prices and a range of handsets affordable to everyone," said Charles Gueret, who will head the new operator, via Twitter.

Orange says it could lose customers to the new brand. "There will be competition and there will be a risk of cannibalisation," said Claire Paponneau, senior vice president for the EMEA zone for Orange.

Eto'o's brand is Africa's fifth MVNO network, according to analyst Informa Telecoms.

Others include Kirène drinks, which launched a mobile brand in Senegal in 2009 using the Orange network, and Virgin Mobile in South Africa, operating as an MVNO since 2006 in partnership with Cell C.

Samuel Eto'o!Don't believe me; just ask any Inter fan!!!

As a fan of Inter Milan I have been spoiled over the last two seasons. This has nothing to do with the treble winning year of 2009-2010, or the 2010 Club World Cup.

It has to do with having the opportunity to watch one player game in and game out. A player that was thrown in as a spare part when Ibrahimovic was sold to Barcelona. A player who many perceive to be simply a goal scorer even though he had 22 assists to go with his 53 goals in two seasons at Inter. A player who has to be mentioned when discussing the top players in the World.

Simply put: Samuel Eto'o is a world class footballer.

I feel foolish because I took Eto'o for granted. How quickly I forgot that he almost dragged Inter kicking and screaming to a sixth consecutive Serie A title last year. When he was sold to Anzhi this summer, although disappointed, I thought any combination of Forlan, Pazzini, Milito and Zarate up front, with Sneijder pulling the strings in the midfield, could fill the void. While the major issues this season have been on the defensive end, the team has lacked cohesion, creativity and finish in the final third of the pitch.

With each new year comes speculation that this will be the year his numbers drop off, yet in just 13 games at Anzhi this year he has notched 8 goals. But Eto'o does more than just score goals, and it is this versatility which makes him so valuable. Play him up front with other strikers and he draws in defenders opening up space for teammates. Play him alone up top and he torments defenders with his pace.

It wasn't until talking to my man Chuck about how undervalued a player he is, that I looked up his stats last season. Lost in the hype surrounding Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney was the fact that Eto'o tallied 37 goals and 15 assists in 53 appearances last year, both personal bests. These numbers are even more impressive when you consider he plays against stifling defenses in the Serie A, while Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney pad their numbers in the more free-flowing leagues in Spain and England.

The Bottom line: Samuel Eto'o is an underrated and under appreciated world-class footballer. Don't believe me; just ask any Inter fan.

Christopher Samba, Samuel Eto'o, Roberto Carlos to visit Fabrice Muamba

Anzhi Makhachkala trio Christopher Samba, Samuel Eto'o and Roberto Carlos will reportedly travel to visit Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba in the coming days.

Former Blackburn Rovers defender Samba, a close friend of Muamba, revealed to Sky Sports News that he, along with his teammates, will seek permission from Anzhi boss Guus Hiddink to depart Russia.

Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday's FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur, and was later taken to hospital.

Nigeria, Cameroun still Africa’s best —Eto’o

African Footballer Of The Year, Samuel Eto'o, says teams participating in the on-going Africa Nations Cup are relieved by the absence of Cameroun and Nigeria.

Eto'o who is in Libreville, Gabon, one of the co-hosts of the 2012 Nations Cup
also expressed satisfaction with the results of first round matches where no team has secured a comfortable victory.

''The talk about this championship is that anything can happen because Cameroun, Nigeria and Egypt are not in the race. Egypt have demonstrated their strength by winning three consecutive times but they looked over their shoulders for the threat of Cameroun and Nigeria.''

The Anzhi of Russia striker added that what makes Cameroun and Nigerian football unique is typical African brand emphasised by technique and athleticsm.

''That is why I don't bother who the coach is, the moment we get to the Nations Cup, we know what to do and the grace of African football is magnified.

Eto'o recalled that Egyptian striker, Mohammed Zidane told him shortly before the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola two years ago that if the Pharaohs could beat either Nigeria or Cameroun, the Nations Cup was theirs for the taking.

On how he feels being a spectator at the Nations Cup, Eto'o said: ''I am enjoying it and spying. Next edition in South Africa I hope to return with the Indomitable Lions'’