When Pep Guardiola took over as coach of Barcelona in 2008, he wanted to get rid of the heavy "legacy" of the stars, and wanted to build a new young team to play for years, and achieve titles, and among those who tried to do without them was the retired Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o, who He played for Barça from 2004 to 2009.
But the "Lion" of Cameroon did not want to be treated by a coach immersed in this way, went and faced him, and told him, "You were never a great player, and as a coach does not have and do not know what is happening in the dressing room." The problem did not remain between him and his new coach locked up walls, but came to the public and circulated the Spanish media.
At the time, Eto'o received a six-month offer from Uzbekistan for $ 26 million. Guardiola went on the line and encouraged him to leave, but Eto'o's response was shocking: "I will not leave and I will be the reason the team will win and I will apologize later."
Guardiola insisted on insulting Eto'o in the dressing room, when he pulled the number 9 out of Eto'o and gave it to former French star Thierry Henry.
"I gave a lot to the team on and off the pitch, and after a few days we played against Chivas in La Liga, he gave me just 20 minutes of play, scoring three goals, and I felt like he was watching a ghost, he didn't have the courage to face me," said Eto'o. They told me there was a surprise for you. "
`` I found most of the players waiting for me in the meeting room, and with them Pep, Xavi told me we want you to stay but you have to find common ground with Guardiola, and my answer was that he deliberately insulted me, and reduced my respect on more than one occasion, and if you do not respect me I will not respect you. ''
In 2008/09, I spoke to Guardiola twice and ended the season with 35 goals.On one occasion he told the team: "I want to thank Samuel for proving me to be a great player, and the first time I agree With him, which cost me my departure to Inter Milan the following season. "