Everton announced on Tuesday that they
have signed Cameroon great Samuel Eto'o on a free transfer after he was
released by Chelsea at the end of last season.
The
33-year-old striker has signed a two-year contract and could make his
debut against his former club on Saturday when Chelsea visit Goodison
Park in the Premier League.
"I met him and we had a
very good chat about football in general and I was impressed about the
hunger he still has," Everton manager Roberto Martinez told the club's
official website.
"For someone who has achieved nearly
everything, he still has the desire he had at 15 when he went to Spain
and showed what he could do. For many reasons he has got a point to
prove.
"We are very excited and I think Everton is the
perfect home for him. The fans will make him ready and feel sharp, but
we have got to be a bit patient with the fitness levels and make sure he
is back to his best."
Eto'o scored 12 goals for
Chelsea last season after signing from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala,
including a hat-trick against Manchester United.
But
his relationship with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho came under scrutiny
after the Portuguese was caught on camera by a French television channel
apparently casting doubt on Eto'o's age.
"I am very
happy to be here. I am looking forward greatly to putting on the Blue
shirt of Everton," said Eto'o, who is Cameroon's record goal-scorer.
"I
have been very impressed by the style of play Everton adopt. I could
see straight away that at this club I will have the opportunity to play
football.
"I had the chance to speak with the manager over the last few days and we agreed that this was what we would do.
"I
was impressed with his enthusiasm but also by the knowledge of football
that Roberto Martinez carries, his vision of football and how he reads
football. I still think I can learn a great deal from him here."
Eto'o
will provide back-up for Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who joined
Everton from Chelsea in a club-record £28 million ($47.4 million, 35.4
million euros) deal last month.
Eto'o has won three
Champions League titles -- two with Barcelona and one with Inter Milan
-- and has been crowned African Player of the Year on four occasions.
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