Eto'o approaches Inter over return

The striker won the treble with the club back in 2010 and harbours hopes of playing for the club again, despite spending the weekend in talks with Ajax

EXCLUSIVE
Fabrizio Romano

Samuel Eto’o is dreaming of a sensational return to former club Inter and has put a potential move to Ajax on hold as he holds out for a second spell at San Siro. The Cameroonian is a free agent after his contract with Chelsea expired this summer and spent the weekend in talks with Ajax over a possible move to the Amsterdam Arena. But Eto’o’s preferred destination...
is Inter, the club where he won the treble during a brilliant two-year spell between 2009 and 2011. The club's president, Erick Thohir, is currently against the idea of re-signing the 33-year-old due to his age and salary – which will be at least €4-5 million a season, working out at €10m gross. Coach Walter Mazzarri is in the market for a frontman to complement current attackers Mauro Icardi, Pablo Osvaldo and Rodrigo Palacio, but would prefer a second striker rather than another penalty box type player. But the ex-Barcelona star is not giving up just yet and, despite having offers on the table from both Ajax and Wolfsburg, he is prepared to give Thohir and Mazzarri more time to change their minds. The veteran will wait at least another week in the hope of receiving good news. One month ago, Eto’o had agreed a potential transfer to Juventus but after discussions with the player’s representatives the Bianconeri decided that his wages were too high.

The veteran originally joined Inter as part of a swap deal involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic five years ago, with Barcelona paying €46 million for the Sweden star as well as allowing Eto'o to move in the other direction.

Under Jose Mourinho he scored 33 goals in 67 Serie A appearances before leaving the club for Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011.