Cameroon's Eto'o cool over Russian link

13 August 2011 14:30

Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o admitted on Saturday he is in talks with Russians Anzhi Makhachkala but said his future is far from decided.

The 30-year-old said he could yet stay with Inter Milan or even head to England.

Anzhi, from the capital of the restless Russian republic of Dagestan, are in advanced negotiations with Inter for the striker in a reported 20-30 million euro transfer.

Press reports in Italy suggest he's also been offered between 15-20 million euros a season.

However, speaking at a press conference in Douala, Eto'o told journalists that he doesn't yet know where he will be playing this season.

"The negotiations (with Anzhi) are ongoing, you must be patient," he said according to media in Cameroon and Italy.

"There's nothing to say I will leave and nothing to say I will stay, there could still be a surprise from England.

"Wait until the end of the transfer window (at the end of the month) which is coming up soon.

"The truth is I'm still under contract with Inter Milan.

"When I leave here I'll go and continue the negotiations."

Eto'o is the most decorated player in African history having won the Champions League three times, twice with Barcelona and once with Inter.

The four-time African player of the year also won three league titles with Barca and one with Inter while with Cameroon he has twice won the African Cup of Nations.

He began his career with Real Madrid before having loan spells with Leganes, Espanyol and Mallorca, whom he then joined permanently.

He helped Mallorca to a Copa del Rey victory in 2003, earning a move to Barca the next year.

He joined Inter in 2009 in a swap deal involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the Italians also receiving 50 million euros.

Anzhi have only had one full season in the Russian top flight but have become a major player since they were bought by Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, who has poured money into the club.

Despite the dangers in Dagestan, where a low-level Islamic insurgency has made the republic very unstable, Anzhi have already managed to attract the likes of Roberto Carlos and Yuri Zhirkov.

They play their home matches in Makhachkala but the players live and train in Moscow for security reasons.

Source: AFP