Editing Samuel Eto'o (section)

====2009–10: Historical treble-winning campaign====
[[File:Samuel Eto'o - Inter Mailand (1).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Eto’o playing for [[Inter Milan]] in August 2009]]
After [[Maxwell (footballer, born 1981)|Maxwell]] completed the transfer from Inter Milan, Joan Laporta confirmed that there was an agreement in principle between Barcelona and Inter Milan for [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]] to join the club in exchange for Eto'o and €46 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090717105959.html|title=Laporta announces agreement in principle with Inter|date=17 July 2009|access-date=23 July 2009|publisher=FC Barcelona|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526092345/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090717105959.html|archive-date=26 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/castellano/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090727107758.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110706220728/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/castellano/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090727107758.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 July 2011|title=Ibrahimovic firma por cinco años|date=27 July 2009|access-date=27 July 2009|publisher=FC Barcelona|language=es}}</ref> After Ibrahimović agreed terms with Barcelona, the club announced Eto'o would travel to [[Milan]] for his medical to complete the transfer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090724107725.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526092347/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090724107725.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2012|title=Ibrahimovic will arrive on Sunday|date=24 July 2009|access-date=25 July 2009|publisher=FC Barcelona}}</ref>

On 27 July 2009, Eto'o passed his medical and signed for five years with Inter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=31823&L=en|title=Samuel Eto'o signs five-year deal|publisher=inter.it|date=27 July 2009|access-date=28 July 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814033845/http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=31823&L=en|archive-date=14 August 2009}}</ref> On his first press-conference in Milan, he declared that he was where he wanted to be and refused to compare himself to Ibrahimović saying, "I'm Samuel Eto'o and I don't want to compare myself to anyone. I believe the victories I have earned up to now can contribute to giving the right value to my name."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=31833&L=en|title=Eto'o: "I'm where I wanted to be"|publisher=inter.it|date=28 July 2009|access-date=29 July 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731150611/http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=31833&L=en|archive-date=31 July 2009}}</ref> On 8 August, Eto'o
scored on his competitive debut in the [[2009 Supercoppa Italiana]] as Inter lost 1–2 to [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/2009/08/08/supercoppa_italiana_inter_lazio.html|title=Inter cuore e grinta, ma la Supercoppa è della Lazio|trans-title=Inter heart and grinta, but the Supercoppa is of Lazio|publisher=Sky Sport|language=it|date=8 August 2009|access-date=8 August 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042609/https://sport.sky.it/calcio/2009/08/08/supercoppa_italiana_inter_lazio.html|archive-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> Two weeks later, Eto'o scored [[Penalty kick (association football)|from the penalty spot]] against [[F.C. Bari 1908|Bari]] in his first [[Serie A]] match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/en/news/32001/serie-a-inter-1-1-bari|title=SERIE A: INTER 1-1 BARI|publisher=inter.it|date=23 August 2009|access-date=23 August 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042604/http://www.inter.it/en/news/32001/serie-a-inter-1-1-bari|archive-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> In the following match, the [[Derby della Madonnina]] against [[A.C. Milan|Milan]], Eto'o won Inter a penalty after being brought down by [[Gennaro Gattuso]] in the box; Milito scored the penalty and Gattuso was yellow carded and eventually sent off. Inter won the match 4–0.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/aug/29/serieafootball-acmilan|title=Internazionale thrash ten-man Milan in one-sided derby|work=The Guardian|date=29 August 2009|access-date=29 August 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/aug/29/serieafootball-acmilan|archive-date=16 February 2010}}</ref> Eto'o scored again on 13 September against [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]], his first goal from open play in a Serie A match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/09/13/1498729/inter-2-0-parma-etoo-milito-break-down-dogged-parma|title=Inter 2-0 Parma: Eto'o & Milito Break Down Dogged Parma|publisher=Goal.com|first=Adam|last=Scime|date=13 September 2009|access-date=22 September 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922185412/http://goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/09/13/1498729/inter-2-0-parma-etoo-milito-break-down-dogged-parma|archive-date=22 September 2009}}</ref>

At the end of September 2009, Eto'o demanded almost £2.75 million from Barcelona after his transfer to Inter. The amount represented 15% of the £17.7 million (US$29 million) fee which Inter paid Barcelona in July 2009. The demand was based on a Spanish rule that a player should get 15% of the amount of his transfer to another Spanish club. If the parties failed to reach a solution, the matter could go to court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8269115.stm|title=Eto'o seeks payout from Barcelona|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 September 2009|access-date=22 September 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925171212/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8269115.stm|archive-date=25 September 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Samuel Eto'o 2009.jpg|thumb|Eto'o playing in the [[UEFA Champions League]] with Inter Milan, a competition he would win for the third time in his career]]
Eto'o scored his first Serie A brace on 29 October during a 5–3 win over [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]], with [[Mario Balotelli]] also scoring twice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/inter-vs-palermo/111259|title=Inter survive Palermo scare|publisher=Sky Sports|date=29 October 2009|access-date=29 October 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313214333/http://www.skysports.com/football/inter-vs-palermo/111259|archive-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> On 1 December 2009, Eto'o finished fifth in voting for the [[Ballon d'Or]], which was won by his former Barcelona teammate [[Lionel Messi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-44372920091201|title=2009 Ballon d'Or final standings|publisher=Reuters|date=1 December 2009|access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref> Eight days later, he scored his first [[UEFA Champions League]] goal for the team in the final [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group F|Group F]] match against [[FC Rubin Kazan|Rubin Kazan]] to help Inter win 2–0 at home and progress to the knockout stage as runner-ups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2009/12/09/1676927/inter-2-0-rubin-kazan-samuel-etoo-mario-balotelli-take-the|title=Inter 2-0 Rubin Kazan: Samuel Eto'o & Mario Balotelli Take The Nerazzurri Through|publisher=Goal.com|first=Anthony|last=Sormani|date=9 December 2009|access-date=9 December 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213114114/http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2009/12/09/1676927/inter-2-0-rubin-kazan-samuel-etoo-mario-balotelli-take-the|archive-date=13 December 2009}}</ref> Eto'o continued to be a protagonist for Inter in Europe, netting the winner in the second leg of [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|2009–10 UEFA Champions League round of 16]] against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on 16 March 2010, which allowed Inter to progress to the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8568613.stm|title=Chelsea 0-1 Inter Milan (agg 1-3)|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Phil|last=McNulty|date=16 March 2010|access-date=16 March 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317053748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8568613.stm|archive-date=17 March 2010}}</ref> He scored his first goal in [[2009–10 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] on 13 April against [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] in the second of semi-finals to help Inter win 1–0 at [[Stadio Artemio Franchi]] and progress in the final 2–0 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/04/13/italy/coppa-italia/acf-fiorentina/fc-internazionale-milano/904440/|title=Fiorentina vs. Internazionale 0 – 1|publisher=Soccerway|date=13 April 2010|access-date=13 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221074454/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/04/13/italy/coppa-italia/acf-fiorentina/fc-internazionale-milano/904440/|archive-date=21 February 2013}}</ref> Eto'o won his first silverware with the club on 5 May as Inter defeated [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] 1–0 at [[Stadio Olimpico]] to lift the Coppa Italia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2177/coppa-italia/2010/05/06/1910660/inter-1-0-roma-diego-milito-wins-the-coppa-italia-for-the|title=Inter 1-0 Roma: Diego Milito Wins The Coppa Italia For The Nerazzurri|publisher=Goal.com|first=Subhankar|last=Mondal|date=5 May 2010|access-date=5 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507132645/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2177/coppa-italia/2010/05/06/1910660/inter-1-0-roma-diego-milito-wins-the-coppa-italia-for-the|archive-date=7 May 2010}}</ref> His 12 Serie A goals helped Inter claim another championship, the fifth consecutive, after defeating [[S.S. Robur Siena|Siena]] in the final matchday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italian-football/2010/05/16/1927368/siena-0-1-inter-diego-milito-secures-scudetto-for-nerazzurri|title=Siena 0-1 Inter: Diego Milito Secures Scudetto For Nerazzurri|publisher=Goal.com|first=Adam|last=Scime|date=16 May 2010|access-date=16 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313214256/http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italian-football/2010/05/16/1927368/siena-0-1-inter-diego-milito-secures-scudetto-for-nerazzurri|archive-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> On 22 May 2010, Eto'o played in the third [[2010 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League final]] of his career, as Inter won 2–0 over [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] to win the first title in 45 years; Milito scored both goals, with Eto'o setting up the second.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0522/265451-bayernmunich_intermilan/|title=Inter Milan crowned champions of Europe|publisher=RTE|date=22 May 2010|access-date=22 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313214242/https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0522/265451-bayernmunich_intermilan/|archive-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> With Inter's triumph over Bayern Munich, he became the only player to win the [[Treble (association football)|treble]] in consecutive seasons with two different teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8697017.stm|title=Bayern Munich 0 - 2 Inter Milan|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Sam|last=Lyon|date=22 May 2010|access-date=22 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524102843/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8697017.stm|archive-date=24 May 2010}}</ref>