Star-striker Samuel Eto’o had his final training session with Inter Milan on Sunday as, according to the Italian media, his move to the Russian side, Anzhi Makhachkal, is a done deal.
La Gazzetta dello Sport daily reports that the Cameroonian has visited Inter’s base in Appiano-Gentile for the last time and said goodbye to his team-mates, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League and the Serie A title.
On Saturday, the same paper reported that the week-long negotiations between the representatives of clubs from Milan and Makhachkala had ended, with Inter agreeing to let their top attacker go.
It is expected that Eto’o will undergo a medical check and be officially presented as the Russian club’s player on Monday.
If so, the 30-year-old will become the most highly-paid footballer on the planet, as he stands to pocket €20.5 million per season in a three-year deal with the side from Russia’s Republic of Dagestan.
The salary of the previous record holder, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, is €11 million annually, while the world’s finest player, Lionel Messi of Barcelona, receives just €9.5 million.
Samuel Eto’o made his name as one of the best strikers on the planet, playing for such clubs as Barcelona and Inter.
He has so far scored 469 goals in club football, winning the Spanish La Liga three times, the Italian championships and four Champions League titles.
The four-times African player of the Year also has 105 caps and 51 goals for Cameroon, with whom he claimed the African Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.
Anzhi has been making waves on the global transfer market since it was bought by Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov in January this year.
The Makhachkala side have already strengthened their line-up with Brazil’s legendary defender, Roberto Carlos, and Russian international, Yury Zhirkov, who quit Chelsea to join the Dagestan team.