"That team was like a second home, we were all united" - Eto'o talks about Inter's treble winning squad

Samuel Eto'o. A Cameroonian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time. He won the African Player Of The Year a record four times: 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010. He played for Inter Milan from 2009 - 2011. He refused to compared himself to Swedish striker Ibrahimovic at Inter Milan saying "I'm Samuel Eto'o and I don't want to compare myself to anyone. I believe the victories I have earned up to now can contribute to giving the right value to my name". Photo of Eto'o: Getty

Former Inter striker Samuel Eto’o has reminisced about Inter’s historic treble winning season, 10 years on from the club achieving the feat that very few clubs have ever achieved.


The former Cameroonian national team player joined Inter in the Summer of 2009 as part of a deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic head in the opposite director to Barcelona.

Eto’o proved absolutely pivotal for Inter during the course of the treble winning season and Eto’o has shared that the unity between everyone made a real difference that year.

“That team was like a second home, a family. We were all united from the warehouse workers to the cooks,” he told Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset yesterday.

“Mourinho will always remain in my heart, he is a great coach and a great person. He wanted me to allow me to express all my value. I experienced the treble with incredible people. All my teammates, of course, but also Massimo Moratti, who was like a second father to me.”

He then proceeded to speak further on Massimo Moratti, who was president and owner of Inter between 1995 and 2013.

“He is a person I can always count on, a firm point of reference. I have never seen such a just and kind person in this world. I will always thank Moratti and the other members of the management of those years.”

He then spoke on the support he received from the fans and the support they still give him even now, many years on from him departing the club.

“The fans welcomed me well and made me feel part of them, even when you go away you always feel like Inter, like a family, it is not easy to find this in the world of football.”

Eto’o concluded the interview by discussing some the messages he received which convinced him to join Inter.

“Before I moved to Inter Materazzi sent me a message to tell me to come to Inter and make him win the Champions League, while Mourinho sent me the Nerazzurri shirt with the number 9. It was an honour.

“My dream was to win the World Cup with Cameroon and this was not possible. However, Inter has allowed me to reach another level and for this I will always be grateful to this team.”

Eto’o made 102 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 53 goals and tallied 24 assists.
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