"It was me who made Barca win, not Messi. Pep should apologise"

Together they formed one of the best teams that you can remember. Leo Messi and Samuel Eto'o together with teammates like Thierry Henry, were part of one of the best eras in Barcelona's history. But the striker has wanted to make clear that, for him, his presence was more important in the squad.

In comments to 'beIN Sports', the now Qatar SC striker made clear that, in his opinion, Pep Guardiola was not fair to him and did not give him the credit he felt he deserved in that Barcelona team which won everything. 

"In the years I was there, Pep did not understand the squad. He did not experience life in the group," said the Cameroon footballer, who did not hesistate to praise his own presence in that team. At that time, Messi still had not shined although he was the one getting most of the praise. "I myself said to Guardiola: 'You will apologise to me because I will be the one who makes Barcelona win, not Messi.' It was me who made Barca win. And Pep, therefore, should apologise to me," commented Eto'o who is still enjoying playing professional football. 

Although on numerous occasions he himself has confirmed that the Argentine is, according to his viewpoint, the best player in history, the attacker's words seem to suggest that the '10' was still not contributing enough for the team in order to be decisive.

"That was the situation in that moment. Messi would emerge later, you can ask Xavi, Iniesta and the others. That was my era," continued the Cameroonian. 

Later on his most bitter spell at Barca would arrive when the club decided to sell him. A decision which, according to Eto'o, was taken by Pep Guardiola himself, who opted for a change in the team's strike force.

"My lawyer said that the club had put me on sale in the transfer window and that it was at Pep's request. Today, it is clear that movement and the opportunity that Pep gave me will go down in history. He let me become an even greater part of footballing history when I went to Inter - there he won another Champions League -. He allowed Inter to carry out the best transfer in footballing history," concluded the Cameroonian.

April 9, 2019