Among all of the good transfers and unexpected successes we've seen in football, there is one that stands out.
Throwback to when Inter played Barcelona and Mourinho played Pep.
Why the Eto'o/Ibrahimović swap deal is the greatest instant bargain in football history.
[Thread]
Throwback to when Inter played Barcelona and Mourinho played Pep.
Why the Eto'o/Ibrahimović swap deal is the greatest instant bargain in football history.
[Thread]
2008/09 season.
Mourinho was at Inter Milan, trying to win the Champions League for the club for the first time in 40 years.
Inter won the Serie A, but went out of Europe in the Ro16.
Inter counted on the (big) help of a 27 year old Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Mourinho was at Inter Milan, trying to win the Champions League for the club for the first time in 40 years.
Inter won the Serie A, but went out of Europe in the Ro16.
Inter counted on the (big) help of a 27 year old Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Zlatan was in his prime, and was truly unplayable under Mourinho.
• 25 goals
• 7 assists
• Serie A Golden Boot
• Serie A MVP (back to back)
Zlatan on Mourinho, when asked about their success together at Inter:
"From being a cat, I felt like a lion."
• 25 goals
• 7 assists
• Serie A Golden Boot
• Serie A MVP (back to back)
Zlatan on Mourinho, when asked about their success together at Inter:
"From being a cat, I felt like a lion."
Meanwhile in Barcelona, Samuel Eto'o was also at the peak of his career.
But when Pep Guardiola was appointed (2008), he wouldn't be counting on Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o, due to them being 'bad influences for the dressing room'.
2 of them left, Eto'o stayed.
But when Pep Guardiola was appointed (2008), he wouldn't be counting on Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o, due to them being 'bad influences for the dressing room'.
2 of them left, Eto'o stayed.
Barcelona won the treble, with Eto'o turning up big.
• 36 goals
• 8 assists
• UCL final goal
But Pep still wanted to ship Eto'o out of Barça, due to his 'confrontational attitude'.
Eto'o was on the market after a treble and a monster season.
• 36 goals
• 8 assists
• UCL final goal
But Pep still wanted to ship Eto'o out of Barça, due to his 'confrontational attitude'.
Eto'o was on the market after a treble and a monster season.
Then comes the summer of 2009.
Barça ask about Zlatan, Inter ask for 70m€, Barça offer 50m€ + Samuel Eto'o (28 years old), who they wanted out.
Obviously, Inter accept.
Out of nowhere, the two best strikers in world football swap clubs, and the tables have turned.
Barça ask about Zlatan, Inter ask for 70m€, Barça offer 50m€ + Samuel Eto'o (28 years old), who they wanted out.
Obviously, Inter accept.
Out of nowhere, the two best strikers in world football swap clubs, and the tables have turned.
Pep had the squad he wanted, Barcelona had Zlatan and everything seemed perfect.
Meanwhile, Inter lost their top scorer and Eto'o had been used as a bargaining chip.
The declarations of Zlatan, Eto'o, Pep and Mourinho paint the perfect picture of what had just happened.
Meanwhile, Inter lost their top scorer and Eto'o had been used as a bargaining chip.
The declarations of Zlatan, Eto'o, Pep and Mourinho paint the perfect picture of what had just happened.
Zlatan: "I thought about leaving Italy since December. I needed something else. When I saw Barça were interested in me, I told my agent to sort it out."
Eto'o: "My history at Barcelona is finished now. A new story begins at Inter. My first aim is to win the Champions League."
Eto'o: "My history at Barcelona is finished now. A new story begins at Inter. My first aim is to win the Champions League."
Pep Guardiola: "I understand that people ask why Samuel isn't part of out plans. He is a wonderful player. Everyone knows there are no 'football' reasons."
"It is a question of feeling. I feel that it is the best for the team, for the club."
"It is a question of feeling. I feel that it is the best for the team, for the club."
José Mourinho: "Only a stupid coach would not be happy to have Samuel Eto'o and only a stupid coach would be happy to lose Ibrahimović. I am very happy to have Eto'o."
"For me this is a 100m€ deal. Eto'o is worth as much as Zlatan. We lost a top player but we got another one."
"For me this is a 100m€ deal. Eto'o is worth as much as Zlatan. We lost a top player but we got another one."
Ibrahimović to Barça was the second biggest signing of the summer, after Cristiano to Real Madrid.
Hyped to the point of bringing 60,000 people to the Camp Nou for his presentation and causing a massive pitch invasion.
Barcelona loved Zlatan.
Hyped to the point of bringing 60,000 people to the Camp Nou for his presentation and causing a massive pitch invasion.
Barcelona loved Zlatan.
Eto'o was a Barça legend, but was cast aside and used as a pawn, while Inter appreciated him and pushed for him.
Eto'o (2020): "Mourinho sent me a picture of Inter's number 9 shirt, saying: 'It's here, it's waiting for you.'"
Eto'o on why he left Barça:
Eto'o (2020): "Mourinho sent me a picture of Inter's number 9 shirt, saying: 'It's here, it's waiting for you.'"
Eto'o on why he left Barça:
Zlatan's sale money was used to improve the team.
• Milito - 28m€
• Sneijder - 15m€
• Motta - 10m€
• Lucio - 7m€
• Pandev - Free
So Inter Milan sold their big star to Barcelona, got a world class striker in return and used the money to build a better team.
• Milito - 28m€
• Sneijder - 15m€
• Motta - 10m€
• Lucio - 7m€
• Pandev - Free
So Inter Milan sold their big star to Barcelona, got a world class striker in return and used the money to build a better team.
2009/10 season.
In Milano, Eto'o is respected again and plays a key role in the team. Inter's new signings from the Zlatan money are all hits and the team is flying.
Inter are set to win the Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League dream is starting to get real.
In Milano, Eto'o is respected again and plays a key role in the team. Inter's new signings from the Zlatan money are all hits and the team is flying.
Inter are set to win the Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League dream is starting to get real.
Eto'o brought his best qualities, his clinicality, his desire to Inter Milan.
Maybe even more important: Eto'o was also a 2 time Champions League winner and took his experience to Inter.
With Eto'o, Inter were more complete and ready to win in Europe.
Maybe even more important: Eto'o was also a 2 time Champions League winner and took his experience to Inter.
With Eto'o, Inter were more complete and ready to win in Europe.
Barça now had Zlatan and were set to win La Liga again. On paper, Barça were the big favourites in Europe.
But... if Eto'o was sent away for being too confrontational, Zlatan isn't that much better, is he?
Zlatan, on the transition from Inter to Barça:
But... if Eto'o was sent away for being too confrontational, Zlatan isn't that much better, is he?
Zlatan, on the transition from Inter to Barça:
In Barcelona, Zlatan isn't so happy anymore...
"My problem is only with one person, the philosopher."
"When I enter a room, he leaves. Maybe he's afraid of me."
"My problem is only with one person, the philosopher."
"When I enter a room, he leaves. Maybe he's afraid of me."
Along the season, both teams keep their Champions League hopes alive.
...until they are drawn against each other in the semifinals.
Zlatan could fulfill his goal and win the UCL with Barça.
Eto'o could prove everyone wrong and win the UCL back to back, for different clubs.
...until they are drawn against each other in the semifinals.
Zlatan could fulfill his goal and win the UCL with Barça.
Eto'o could prove everyone wrong and win the UCL back to back, for different clubs.
In the first leg, Inter outplay Barcelona and take a 3-1 lead, with goals from Milito, Sneijder and Maicon.
It's clear that there was still high tension between Eto'o and Pep.
It's clear that there was still high tension between Eto'o and Pep.
In the second leg, at the Camp Nou, Thiago Motta gets sent off in the 1st-half and Inter have to adjust their 10 men team to sit back and defend.
Inter win, due to an all-time great team performance.
Eto'o sacrificed for the team and played at full back.
Inter win, due to an all-time great team performance.
Eto'o sacrificed for the team and played at full back.
After getting cast out of Barça, Eto'o returned to the Camp Nou with his new team, won, and Inter went to the final.
Inter Milan finally won the Champions League after 40 years, won the Serie A and the Cup.
Inter became the first (and still only) Italian team to win the treble.
Inter Milan finally won the Champions League after 40 years, won the Serie A and the Cup.
Inter became the first (and still only) Italian team to win the treble.
Zlatan was supposed to be the new Barça idol, while Eto'o was disrespected and 'shipped off' to Inter.
Barça missed out on the UCL and Zlatan was sold to AC Milan after 1 season (30m€).
Eto'o proved everyone wrong and became the first player to ever win consecutive trebles.
Barça missed out on the UCL and Zlatan was sold to AC Milan after 1 season (30m€).
Eto'o proved everyone wrong and became the first player to ever win consecutive trebles.
Zlatan Ibrahimović: "My worst memory is Barcelona." (2022)
José Mourinho, saying he warned Zlatan that he was making a mistake by going to Barcelona and that Inter Milan would be the ones to win the Champions League.
José Mourinho, saying he warned Zlatan that he was making a mistake by going to Barcelona and that Inter Milan would be the ones to win the Champions League.
Samuel Eto'o: "Mourinho did his team talk before the final and then said: 'Now Samuel will tell us how to win.' For me, that was the most special final." (2017)
"We would kill for Mourinho at Inter." (2019)
"No other manager will motivate his players like Mourinho." (2021)
"We would kill for Mourinho at Inter." (2019)
"No other manager will motivate his players like Mourinho." (2021)
To end: Samuel Eto'o, on why this is football's greatest transfer.
"I will forever be grateful, I was allowed to make history. It's the best deal in football history."
"I said I would win the Champions League in 2 years. I arrived to a wonderful family."
"I will forever be grateful, I was allowed to make history. It's the best deal in football history."
"I said I would win the Champions League in 2 years. I arrived to a wonderful family."
Zlatan was Inter's star, who left for the world's best team in pursuit of the Champions League.
Inter took Eto'o, built a team and in the end, the guy who was used as a pawn won it again.
Today, Eto'o is still the only ever player to win back to back trebles.
That's football.
Inter took Eto'o, built a team and in the end, the guy who was used as a pawn won it again.
Today, Eto'o is still the only ever player to win back to back trebles.
That's football.
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