Editing Samuel Eto'o (section)

===Barcelona===
====2004–07: Transfer, Pichichi Trophy and first Champions League title====
[[File:Samuel etoo.JPG|thumb|upright|Eto'o celebrating a goal for [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in December 2005]]
Eto'o departed Mallorca as the club's all-time leading domestic league scorer (54 goals) when he signed for [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in the summer of 2004 for a transfer fee of €24 million, after lengthy, three-way negotiations with Mallorca and Madrid.<ref name=ToWatch>{{cite news |last=McCoy |first=Tim |title=Six to watch in the Primera Liga |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 August 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/3556318.stm |access-date=26 November 2008}}</ref> Initially, Real Madrid President [[Florentino Pérez]] wanted to buy back the full transfer rights and loan him out again, but eventually the Barcelona deal proved lucrative enough to warrant a sale.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eto'o is Barça priority |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 July 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3894767.stm |access-date=26 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040726001916/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3894767.stm |archive-date=26 July 2004}}</ref> Additionally, the team already had its full quota of three non-EU players.<ref name=ToWatch/>

Eto'o made his Barcelona debut in the season opener at [[Racing de Santander]] on 29 August 2004. After Barcelona won the [[2004–05 La Liga]] title, the team organized a festive party in the [[Camp Nou]], during which Eto'o harangued the fans chanting, "''Madrid, cabrón, saluda al campeón''" (English for, "Madrid, bastards, salute the champions"). The [[Royal Spanish Football Federation]] fined Eto'o €12,000 for his comments, for which he later apologized. He expressed regret and asked for forgiveness from Real Madrid, his first professional team. The head of the Real Madrid fan club federation remained unimpressed, however, stating, "This character is a fantastic player, but he leaves a lot to be desired as a person."<ref>{{cite news |title=Eto'o apologizes for outburst |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4553179.stm |access-date=26 November 2008}}</ref> He signed an improved contract with Barcelona in June 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=312993.html|title=Eto'o aims for even better at Barça|date=29 June 2005|access-date=23 July 2009|publisher=UEFA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729101036/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=312993.html|archive-date=29 July 2009}}</ref>

After missing out on the previous year's [[Pichichi Trophy|Pichichi trophy]], which is given to the top scorer in La Liga, Eto'o edged out [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] striker [[David Villa]] for the award during the final matchday on 20 May 2006 when he scored his 26th goal of the season against [[Athletic Bilbao]]. Eto'o was very gracious to teammates after the game, saying, "It has been a team effort although only one person gets the award. We've worked hard all season and have got our just rewards."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/5002096.stm|title=Eto'o thanks team for Pichichi|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 May 2005|access-date=26 November 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113173340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/5002096.stm|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref>

Eto'o also contributed six goals during Barcelona's run to the [[UEFA Champions League 2005-06|2005–06 Champions League]] title. In [[2006 UEFA Champions League Final|the final]], [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] goalkeeper [[Jens Lehmann]] was [[sent off]] early on for bringing down Eto'o just outside the penalty area, but the Catalans struggled to capitalize on their one-man advantage until Eto'o scored the game-tying goal in the second half. Barcelona went on to win the match 2–1, and Eto'o was awarded with the UEFA Best Forward of the Year award for his accomplishments in the European campaign.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2005/intro.html| title=Ronaldinho delivers for Barcelona| publisher=[[UEFA]]| date=1 June 2006| access-date=26 November 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915063506/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season%3D2005/intro.html| archive-date=15 September 2008| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Haslam |first=Andrew |title=Ronaldinho reigns in Monaco |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=24 August 2006 |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/news/kind=1/newsid=447990.html |access-date=26 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208115808/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/news/kind%3D1/newsid%3D447990.html |archive-date= 8 December 2008 }}</ref>

Eto'o also won an historic third consecutive [[African Player of the Year]] award that season. He said in his acceptance speech, "Above all, I dedicate this to all the children of Africa."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4722080.stm|title=Eto'o king of Africa once again Eto'o show|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 February 2006|access-date=26 November 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207035537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4722080.stm|archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref> He was also selected to his second straight [[FIFPro World XI]] and finished third in the running for the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]], making him only the second African footballer ever, after the Liberian star [[George Weah]], to be voted into the top three.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ronaldinho voted FIFPro World Player of the Year again |publisher=[[FIFPro]] |url=http://worldx1.fifpro.org/index.php?mod=plink&id=9025 |access-date=26 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221011357/http://worldx1.fifpro.org/index.php?mod=plink&id=9025 |archive-date=21 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA World Player |publisher=[[FIFA]] |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/playeroftheyear/winnermen.html |access-date=26 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528002627/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/playeroftheyear/winnermen.html |archive-date=28 May 2010 }}</ref>

The season started badly for Eto'o, as he ruptured the [[Meniscus (anatomy)|meniscus]] in his right knee during Barcelona's Champions League group stage match against [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] on 27 September 2006. Barcelona team physician Ricard Pruna originally estimated that the injury would keep him out of action for two to three months.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/continentalfootball/story/0,,1883793,00.html | title=Eto'o setback for Barcelona | work=The Guardian | date=29 September 2006 | access-date=29 September 2006 | location=London | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929130121/http://football.guardian.co.uk/continentalfootball/story/0,,1883793,00.html | archive-date=29 September 2006 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> After the operation, Eto'o's recovery time was extended to five months, but he resumed training with Barcelona in early January 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eto'o out for five months after knee operation |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=27 September 2006 |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=382133&&cc=5739 |access-date=26 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209155416/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=382133&&cc=5739 |archive-date=9 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eto'o to train again on Monday |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 January 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6251923.stm |access-date=26 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127224743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6251923.stm |archive-date=27 January 2007}}</ref>

====2007–09: More trophies, the ''Treble'' and departure====
[[File:Etoo Joan Gamper Trophy 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Eto'o during the 2008 [[Joan Gamper Trophy]]]]
Eto'o refused to come on as a substitute in a league match against [[Racing de Santander]] on 11 February 2007. Barcelona manager [[Frank Rijkaard]] said after the match, "He did not want to come on; I don't know why."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/sport_sto1084515.shtml| title=Eto'o refuses to play| publisher=[[Eurosport]]| last=Chick| first=Alex| date=17 February 2007| access-date=17 February 2007| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109214218/http://www.eurosport.com/football/sport_sto1084515.shtml| archive-date=9 January 2016| df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Ronaldinho]] was critical of Eto'o's actions, saying that Eto'o was not putting the team first, but Eto'o rebutted the comment, claiming that he did not come on because he did not have enough time to warm up properly.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200702130067.html| title=Cameroon: Ronaldinho Slams Eto'o – Over Racing snub| publisher=allAfrica.com| date=17 February 2007| access-date=17 February 2007| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216063311/http://allafrica.com/stories/200702130067.html| archive-date=16 February 2007| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/la-liga/2006-2007/sport_sto1085983.shtml| title=Eto'o slams Rijkaard and Ronaldinho| publisher=[[Eurosport]]| date=14 February 2007| access-date=14 February 2007| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216013106/http://www.eurosport.com/football/la-liga/2006-2007/sport_sto1085983.shtml| archive-date=16 February 2007| df=dmy-all}}</ref> Three months later, Eto'o said, "These kind of things are usually just speculation and don't come through to me. However, if it is true that I am a problem for my team then I will go. But like I said, I am happy here. The press can write what they want." Following the comments, Barcelona President [[Joan Laporta]] was quick to quash rumours of transfers involving Eto'o and Ronaldinho.<ref>{{cite web |title=No Change at Barca, Says Chairman |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=19 June 2007 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2007/June/19/no-change-at-barca-says-chairman/ |access-date=26 November 2008}}</ref>

After aggravating a meniscus injury on 28 August during a summer friendly against [[Inter Milan]], Eto'o was sidelined indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eto'o cleared to return to action |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 December 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7127353.stm |access-date=26 November 2008}}</ref> On 17 October, in the midst of his recovery period, he gained Spanish citizenship.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/10/n071017101231.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122191306/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/10/n071017101231.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=22 January 2013| title=Eto'o nationalized| publisher=FC Barcelona| date=17 October 2007| access-date=26 November 2008| language=es}}</ref> He was cleared to play again on 4 December, and returned to the side a week later in Barcelona's 2–1 league win over [[Deportivo de La Coruña]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Jensen |first=Pete |title=Barcelona 2 Deportivo la Coruna 1: Barcelona achieve harmony with REM's return to stage |work=The Independent |date=10 December 2007 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-2-deportivo-la-coruna-1-barcelona-achieve-harmony-with-rems-return-to-stage-764272.html |access-date=26 November 2008 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208030702/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-2-deportivo-la-coruna-1-barcelona-achieve-harmony-with-rems-return-to-stage-764272.html |archive-date=8 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lyon and Fenerbahce roll on |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=12 December 2007 |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=659220.html |access-date=26 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207222500/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=659220.html |archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref>

[[Pep Guardiola]] was appointed as Barcelona's new manager for the [[2008–09 La Liga|2008–09 season]]. The coach made headlines by announcing that stars such as Ronaldinho, [[Deco]], and Eto'o were not part of his plans; Eto'o ultimately remained with the club, while the other two players departed, although Eto'o and Guardiola had several reported disagreements throughout the season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |date=18 June 2008 |title=Barcelona clear way for Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto'o to leave |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/18/laligafootball.barcelona |access-date=15 December 2020 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126080014/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/18/laligafootball.barcelona |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eto'o blasts 'coward' Guardiola |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37343248/chelsea-striker-samuel-etoo-blasts-bayern-munich-coach-pep-guardiola |work=ESPN.com |access-date=11 March 2024 |date=24 March 2014}}</ref> Eto'o recorded his first league [[hat-trick]] in a match against [[UD Levante|Levante]] on 24 February 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jensen |first=Pete |title=Eto'o hat-trick keeps Barcelona in hot pursuit |work=The Independent |date=25 February 2008 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/etoo-hattrick-keeps-barcelona-in-hot-pursuit-786938.html |access-date=26 November 2008 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208030707/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/etoo-hattrick-keeps-barcelona-in-hot-pursuit-786938.html |archive-date=8 December 2008}}</ref> He finished with a total of 16 league goals in 18 appearances for the season.<ref name=Irish>{{cite news |last=Barclay |first=Patrick |title=Eto'o out to prove class is permanent |work=[[The Irish Independent]] |date=7 July 2008 |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/etoo-out-to-prove-class-is-permanent-1428710.html |access-date=26 November 2008}}</ref> 
[[File:Eto'o and Evra, 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.jpg|thumb|upright|Eto'o holding off [[Patrice Evra]] of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final]]]]
On 25 October, Eto'o recorded the fastest hat-trick in club history after netting three times in 23 minutes in a victory over [[UD Almería|Almería]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Jensen |first=Pete |title=Eto'o treble maintains Barcelona's flying start |work=The Independent |date=27 October 2008 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/etoo-treble-maintains-barcelonas-flying-start-974450.html |access-date=26 November 2008 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202152145/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/etoo-treble-maintains-barcelonas-flying-start-974450.html |archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref> Only two games later, on 8 November 2008, Eto'o scored four goals in the first half of Barcelona's game against [[Real Valladolid]], which ended 6–0. On 29 November 2008, he scored his 111th career Barcelona goal in all competitions in a 3–0 road win over [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]], moving him into the club's top ten all-time goalscorers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eto'o is one of Barça's top ten all-time goalscorers |publisher=fcbarcelona.cat |date=30 November 2008 |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada08-09/11/n081130106317.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730111545/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada08-09/11/n081130106317.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |access-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref>

On 14 February 2009, he scored his 99th and his 100th league goals for Barcelona in a 2–2 draw with [[Real Betis]]. Eto'o scored his 30th goal of the 2008–09 season in a La Liga match against Real Valladolid. The game ended 1–0 and meant that Barcelona kept a six-point lead over Real Madrid in the league. He also scored against [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]] in the game that put Barcelona one point away from lifting the [[2008–09 La Liga]] trophy. He scored 30 goals in the season, finishing second in the Pichichi Trophy goalscorers list behind Atlético de Madrid's [[Diego Forlán]].

Eto'o scored the opening goal in the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final]] against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. Barcelona went on to win the final [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final#Details|2–0]], thus completing the [[Treble (association football)|Treble]]. The trio of [[Lionel Messi]] (38 goals), Eto'o (36 goals) and [[Thierry Henry]] (26 goals) scored exactly 100 goals between them in the club's historic treble year.<ref>[http://blogs.soccernet.com/barcelona/archives/2012/05/lionel_messis_golden_boot_mean.php "Lionel Messi Excelled In The Least Successful Barcelona Under Guardiola"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826160826/http://blogs.soccernet.com/barcelona/archives/2012/05/lionel_messis_golden_boot_mean.php |date=26 August 2014 }}. ESPN. Retrieved 24 August 2014</ref>