Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o gave a snide response to a journalist who had inquired how it felt like to play with Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
The former striker played alongside the Argentina captain at the Spanish outfit, with the latter making his debut when the Central African was already an established player at the club.
In a recent interview, a journalist posed a question to the ex-Indomitable Lion as quoted by the Mirror: "You talk about Messi, what can [Ansu Fati] learn from Messi? You obviously played with him.
It is at this point the 40-year-old replied sharply, "No. He played with me; it is different. Messi played with me. I did not play with Messi. In my time, Messi played with me. It is totally different. It is totally different."
Eto'o joined Barcelona from Real Mallorca in 2004 after he had played 155 matches for the latter, scoring 67 goals in the process.
Then Barca coach Frank Rijkaard signed him, and he went on to form a formidable team with Brazilian Ronaldinho and Frenchman Ludovic Giuly, with Messi coming in later on.
He played five seasons for the club, playing a total of 199 matches, scoring 130 goals in the process.
Messi gradually grew and somewhat overshadowed the Cameroonian, who left in 2009 for Inter Milan. There, he played 102 matches, scoring 33 goals, and went on to retire in 2019.
Recently, Eto'o referred to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as gods when he was making a remark on PSG and France hotshot Kylian Mbappe.
"Cristiano is another god. Together with Messi, they are the players who mark current football with the highest grades. But another God is coming for when Messi and Cristiano get tired of giving us these joys. That new god will be Kylian Mbappe," he said.
He went on to express his confidence about Messi staying at the Spanish outfit when reports of his exit were rife.
"I can't imagine Leo with another shirt. It is his club, his home, his love. I do not think that his continuity is due to a question of money. Leo is Barcelona and Barcelona is Messi.
"I know [president Joan] Laporta is preparing a reliable, interesting project for him."
KingJerryTheGreat
915
Wow that was a classic response from Eto'o
Brightberry
715
Ronaldinho and Eto’o was one of the best Duo 🔥🔥
satyaballa
592
that is why he is our GOAT.🐐
Arg/Barca10
506
The headline makes I sound as if he was shouting. I simple said the truth. Back then Messi was still building his name, but Eto'o was already a world class player, so Messi played with him. Though towards the end of his Barca career Messi later overcame him and won his first B. dor
beuailnos
393
Messi in his time with Eto’o has never ever overshadowed him pls mind ur statement. Potential world best at that time with a come up lad?Put some respect on Eto’o🙌🏾🙌🏾
Impactful
364
Ibrahimovic to Eto'o be like
mopklrsy
353
Typical reporter making up facts, good eto’o corrected him, and of course when you correct a reporter they try to make you look bad and say you lose your cool Eto’o was under appreciated by Barca
AnilDangi
345
he was right. he dididn't play with messi he played with alien.
Konabdeoru
274
i think this journalist didn't give the necessary respect to Eto'o, because you are greater than your father dose not make you not to respect him that is our African value which the world can't change,I love Messi but as a Eto'o said Messi play with him and not the other way
KingJerryTheGreat
215
I remember some time back in Barcelona when Guardiola was a coach. He came in and.... Guardiola: For me, Eto'o, Deco and Ronaldinho OUT. Then Eto'o reminded him that he was never a GREAT player but only a GOOD player[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
ParthaMessi10
189
eto is right, in that time Messi was a emerging young player and eto was established senior player at Barcelona
kisdlrtu
9
Messi’s hater spotted both u and and jealous arrogant Samuel Etoo. What does he had that Messi copied from? Can he score goals like Messi, dribbles, passes, assists. He met Messi at Barcelona though playing for the division team.
Really? Man look at this rationally. Messi was a young star by then & Samuel Etoo was the superstar along with Ronaldinho. Frankly speaking Etoo is quite right. Messi grew up under his watch from Barcelona academy to the senior team.
Legacyboy
9
Messi’s hater spotted both u and and jealous arrogant Samuel Etoo. What does he had that Messi copied from? Can he score goals like Messi, dribbles, passes, assists. He met Messi at Barcelona though playing for the division team.
Your brain is very shallow