Samuel Eto'o The Catalan from Cameroon
Will Barca Regret the Sale of The Best Striker in the World?
Jul 30, 2009
On February 17th, 2008, Samuel Eto'o was fined 12,000 Euros for firing expletive remarks towards Real Madrid fans during Barcelona's title celebrations of 2005. These remarks signalled the vindictive cry of the man that Real Madrid once deemed surplus to requirements, a man that demanded total respect for his achievements and, above all, the cry of a champion.
It is in this respect that Eto’o has found himself a place in the hearts of all the Catalan fans; his tremendous desire to be heralded, to be recognized, to throw off the suffocating mass of Madrid’s shadow are all traits that draw significant parallels with that of the Catalan psyche.
Franco's Supression of Catalonia
Catalonia has sought to be recognized as a nation ever since Spain became a united country in 1492; it recently took steps towards independence only to see its dreams violently crushed by the Falangist regime of Francisco Franco. Under the general, the speaking of the Catalan language was banned in public, with one of the few places of free speech being the Camp Nou. Consequently, Barcelona became a symbol of Catalan pride and resistance to the authoritarian government in Madrid – hence the club’s motto ‘mes que un club’.
The political dimension of the Barca – Real rivalry is, therefore, quite undeniable; to many Catalans, a Barca victory is one small ounce of revenge given out to Castillian Spain for decades of repression. Fans therefore wish to see fight from their players, a fight which has never been embodied by meeker types such as Xavi Hernandez or Andres Iniesta, or the grand entertainers such as Lionel Messi or Ronaldinho. This fight: the courage, hunger, aggression and sometimes downright hostility is embodied by Samuel Eto’o to an extent that he, along with inspirational captain Carles Puyol, can be considered emblematic of the repressed frustration and rage that boils deep down within the Catalan nation. It is perhaps fitting that is was this pair who combined to finally break through the staunch Blanco lines at the Camp Nou in December, a match that was the beginning of the end for Madrid’s title hopes.
Eto'o's Relations With Rikjaard, Ronaldinho and Laporta
As with many legendary characters however, Eto’o’s volatility and abrasiveness ensured that his relationship with his fans and employers never quite ran smoothly, a contributing factor to the fantastic entertainment that this man offered. Aside from the aforementioned barrage of abuse directed at the top of his lungs towards Real Madrid, during the 04/05 title celebrations, Eto’o has always maintained a wonderful ability to get on the wrong side of figures of authority. Whether this be refusing to come on as a substitute under Frank Rikjaard at Mallorca, or headbutting a Cameroonian journalist , the man remains anything but predictable. Further examples include his very public and rather unhelpful outburst pertaining to the behaviour of Ronaldinho towards the latter end of the 06/07 season as well as accusations of him deliberately getting carded in order to avoid the dreaded ‘guard of honour’ given to Madrid last season – for a man who is such a winner, magnanimity in defeat has never been part of his philosophy.
Samuel Eto'o's Barcelona Legacy
The treatment of Eto’o has left many Barca fans disillusioned, scratching their heads in bemusement at how one of the greatest strikers in the club’s history, a fan icon, and scorer in two Champions League finals was so forcibly ejected from the Blaugrana’s payroll. Eto’o though, will pick himself up, his thirst to prove himself is almost as insatiable as his lust for classic cars – of which he currently owns “around seventeen” (his own words). Eto’o will no doubt be thirsty for revenge when he meets Barcelona again and, as his form against his other previous employers will testify, he rarely spurns an opportunity to remind his ex-paymasters of the error of their ways.
