Samuel Eto’o has admitted that joining Everton was one of the “best decisions” of his career, despite expressing disappointment at his early exit.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker joined Everton in 2014 on a free transfer after leaving Chelsea, following the expiry of his contract.
Despite fan excitement at the time and with Eto’o having signed a two-year deal to remain on Merseyside, the Cameroonian only managed six months at Goodison Park before moving to Sampdoria in January 2015.
Despite his Toffees tenure being short, the three-time Champions League winner maintains that moving to Everton was a great decision for him. Talking to Everton’s official match-day programme (via the Liverpool Echo), Eto’o said:
Honestly, signing for Everton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever taken.
I had other offers, I spoke with Liverpool and other teams had been talking with me. But when I spoke with the Everton manager [Roberto Martinez], everything changed and I didn’t look at any of the other offers I had.
When I met him, I immediately fell in love with Everton. I was excited by his plans for the club and his ideas on the game…that is what took me to Everton.
Eto’o did also admit that he was disappointed to have left the club so soon after joining, citing his will to play more regular football as the reason behind his departure. Eto’o said:
I was disappointed to be a Everton for only a short period. When I came I knew I was joining another big club, no doubt. I had played a lot at all my previous clubs and managed to entertain the fans, while achieving a lot of different things.
But at Everton, even though I played in a few games, I don’t think the fans ever saw the real Samuel Eto’o.
I had another offer and I wasn’t featuring too much at Everton, so I went to speak to the gaffer, saying that for a player like me I would have liked the chance to enjoy more playing time.
I had less and less time left in the game. I was very happy with Everton but I had the chance to go and play in another league and enjoy my football a bit longer.
He said that was okay and to think about it but my mind was made up and in the end he helped me with the transfer.
Read Everton Verdict
The fact that Everton once signed Samuel Eto’o still blows my mind, and it does sometimes feel like a strange dream that someone so successful chose the Blues as a destination.
I do feel that Eto’o left Everton too early, because he had played in an important part as a squad player that season and given his age and his dwindling ability, he was never going to start every game, realistically.
Eto’o still had plenty to offer though, and it did feel like a missed opportunity when he left, because who know’s how far the club could have gone in the Europa League if his wealth of experience was kept around the club.
I didn’t miss seeing a striker wearing No. 5 though…
