Dubai: Former Cameroon, Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o is in Dubai with his current club Anzhi Makhachkala of Russia on a winter training camp from January 10 to 23.
The 30-year-old four-time African Player of the Year, whose August 2011 signing for Anzhi made him football's biggest earner [€20 million per season], played alongside teammate Roberto Carlos against Iraq's Olympic team at Al Nasr Stadium last night.
Having lifted the Champions League title three time and topped respective domestic tables four times, the double African Cup of Nations winner and 2000 Olympic gold medal holder remains the most decorated African footballer of all-time.
Gulf News: How have you enjoyed your time in Dubai?
Samuel Eto'o: I'm very happy in Dubai. I came 15 days before this training camp for a holiday and I've been in the city with my family. I've been coming to Dubai regularly to relax after a tough season to re-energise for the next for many years. When the club announced they were having a training camp here I was very happy because I know the city very well and I can come here to meet up with friends from Africa.
How's life in Russia and what are your targets?
I decided to go to Anzhi five months ago. I'm very happy there. Some people are trying to say that I'm not happy but this is absolutely not the truth. I'm very happy and I love the club.
My goal at Anzhi is, apart from beating the other top Russian clubs, to qualify for the Uefa Europa League or Champions League. In the future I want to play in the Champions or Europa League. We're fighting to make this a big club with big players and big ambitions for the future.
Will you play out the rest of your career in Russia?
My goal is to finish my career with Anzhi but in football as well as life you know anything is possible.
It's a big opportunity handed to me by Anzhi so if all is well I'll stay there until the end of my career. I'm 30 years old now and I think I can play top level football until I'm 36, so I have six more years left.
What's your opinion on Cameroon failing to reach the African Cup of Nations?
It was a big disappointment that Cameroon didn't qualify but in football, as in life, you face ups and downs. Cameroon is a big footballing nation. The national team is big news and everyone follows the results in victory and defeat.
This time we've not qualified but they'll want to learn from this big defeat to improve in the future and change the difficulties to improve and reach the next goal.
Where's best, Italy or Spain, and under Guardiola or Mourinho?
I can't compare the two leagues because I was very lucky to play for big teams in both leagues in Italy and Spain under two very good coaches in Jose Mourinho and Josep Guardiola. The most important thing for me is to be happy that I reached both goals with both teams.
Would you ever consider playing in the UAE?
Like I said before, the most important thing is to be happy and I'm very happy with Anzhi. I'm not about to change but we never know in football.
More info
Matchworld Cup
The second Matchworld Cup at Shabab Club from January 18 to 23 involves: Zenith St. Petersburg, Neuchatel Xamax, Bunyodkor, Iraq's U23s, Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Rostov, Uzbekistan's U23s and Etoile Sportiv du Sahel.
Further information is available on www.matchworld-cup.com. Tickets start from Dh40.
— A.H.
