One of the finest African footballers of all time, striker Samuel Eto’o started his senior career at Real Madrid, although he spent much of his three-year spell with the club away on loan. Mallorca, who initially took him on a temporary basis in 2000, made the move permanent later that year.
Eto’o developed into a highly promising player in La Liga with Mallorca, establishing himself as a dependable goalscorer and catching the attention of Real Madrid’s biggest rivals. In 2004, the Cameroonian joined Barcelona, spending the following five years at the club and developing into one of the world’s leading strikers.
During his time with Barca, Eto’o collected three La Liga titles and lifted the Champions League trophy twice. Barcelona completed a European treble in 2008/09, and Eto’o would achieve the same feat in the following campaign after joining Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.
Eto’o moved to Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011 before making his first switch to the Premier League two years later. He spent one season at Chelsea before joining Everton when his contract expired, leaving the Toffees and English football in 2015. During the final four years of his playing career, Eto’o represented Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and Qatar SC before retiring in 2019.
Samuel Eto’o Club Career Stats
Playing Career
1997-2019
Appearances
754
Goals
368
Assists
117
Notable Clubs
Mallorca, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea
The former striker has continued to remain involved in football and Eto’o has offered plenty of his views, including in 2021 when, as reported by AS via Squawka, he revealed which player he believed could challenge Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or record.
Eto’o Predicted Bright Future For Real Madrid Ace
In 2021, Kylian Mbappe was in his fourth season with Paris Saint-Germain, having arrived from Monaco and been tasked, alongside stars such as Lionel Messi and Neymar, with helping the club win the Champions League. Although only 23 at the time, Mbappe had already won the World Cup and established himself among the finest players in his position.
“He (Kylian Mbappe) is there and it has arrived at a good moment, in which Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo), the gods of football, are in the night of their careers due to age and Mbappe is arriving. I hope he will be the biggest for the next 10 or 15 years. He has everything to be this unique player that soccer needs after these two monsters.”
Mbappe remained with PSG for another three seasons, failing to win either the Ballon d’Or or the Champions League before leaving for Real Madrid in 2024. The Parisians, in their first campaign without the French forward, secured their first Champions League title, while Mbappe did not win a major trophy during his debut season in Madrid despite producing strong individual performances.
Real Madrid are not accustomed to going without silverware, but PSG have since gone back-to-back in Europe while Mbappe is still waiting for a major trophy in Spain. Mbappe could still make a push for the Ballon d’Or, although surpassing Messi’s record of eight victories would require an extraordinary level of achievement.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
(All stats are from Transfermarkt and are correct as of 13-08-26)
Sir Alex Ferguson often did his utmost to prevent any Manchester United player from joining arch-rivals Liverpool.
Understandably so, given Ferguson vowed to knock the Merseysiders ‘off their perch’ during the early stages of a 26-year reign. The Scot did just that, guiding United to 13 Premier League titles and dominating English football.
Just four players have moved from Old Trafford to Anfield, and none of those transfers occurred while Ferguson was at the helm. You have to go all the way back to Phil Chisnall in 1964, who was the last player to swap the Theatre of Dreams for the Kop.
That’s not to say there haven’t been rumours of potential transfers taking place between the two clubs. One player during Sir Alex’s era had pushed for a controversial move, but the Red Devils’ legendary former boss wasn’t having it.
Ferguson Put Man Utd Star Joining Liverpool ‘To Bed’
There perhaps hasn’t been a manager with more control at a football club than Ferguson, who controlled United from top to bottom. Nowadays, most coaches are appointed to solely focus on tactics and follow a set plan handed to them by sporting directors.
Ferguson had the final say over team selections, style of play, transfers and even kept the media in line. When talk of Gabriel Heinze wanting to join Liverpool surfaced, he was firm in his approach to deny the Argentine left-back a move to Anfield.
Heinze fell out with Old Trafford bosses in 2007 and then-United chief executive David Gill allegedly informed his agent Roberto Rodriguez he could leave for £6.8 million. Much to Ferguson and Co’s surprise, that very offer arrived from Anfield as Rafa Benitez looked to take the versatile defender to Merseyside.
Ferguson made his stance clear after calling out Heinze’s agents: “I can assure you, Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze. We can put that to bed right now and we have done so.”
Heinze took legal advice, and Liverpool’s solicitors were thought to be ready to support him. This didn’t go down well with his United boss: “I’m aware that it has been suggested that he’s using Liverpool’s solicitors, but that doesn’t worry me. He has either got a case or he hasn’t.”
The Argentine failed in his attempt to join Benitez’s side after the Premier League held a hearing and United won. He vented his frustrations: “My fight is for the freedom to negotiate with any club… United never wanted me to leave for one of the big clubs, but this anti-Liverpool clause is incredible.”
Heinze did eventually leave Old Trafford, joining Real Madrid shortly after the ordeal. He later reflected on Ferguson blocking his move to Anfield and insisted he’d have been a success under Benitez:
“I am convinced my move to Liverpool would have worked out, and I believe I had a case and needed to defend my rights.”
Gabriel Heinze at Man Utd
Appearances (Starts)
83 (73)
Goals
4
Assists
1
Yellow Cards
14
Red Cards
0
Trophies
Premier League
Heinze spent three years at United after joining the Red Devils from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2004. He had been a fan favourite, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award in his debut season.
A serious knee ligament injury the following season proved problematic, and Ferguson swooped for Patrice Evra, who took his place at left-back. He became disillusioned with life at United due to a lack of regular game time, but he didn’t get the move to Liverpool he wanted.
A Reunion With Mikel Arteta at Arsenal
REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Heinze later apologised to United fans for how he handled the situation and his fallout with Ferguson. While he harmed his relationship with the club’s supporters, many took the positives from his time at the Theatre of Dreams.
After calling time on his playing career in July 2014 at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, he entered the coaching world. He spent time in charge of MLS club Atlanta United and returned to Newell’s before heading back to the Premier League in July 2025.
Heinze agreed to reunite with his former PSG teammate Mikel Arteta and join Arsenal‘s backroom staff. He replaced Carlos Cuesta as Arteta’s assistant and rejoined the Spaniard on the training pitch, as he had done during their playing days in the French capital.
Luis Fernandez, who managed the pair during their time at the Parc des Princes, explained their close bond in an interview with BBC Sport: “Gabi was closer to Mikel’s age and more like a brother… They were together at training, and also spent time together away from the pitch with their families.”
Heinze’s arrival worked a charm as Arsenal finally ended a 22-year title drought and won the Premier League last season. Their contrasting characters have been on display on the touchline as they were at PSG.
Former teammate Edouard Cisse explained: “Gabi gave everything, even in training. He had to win. Mikel was calmer. But you knew not to rub him up the wrong way. He had that tough Basque edge.”
Arteta praised Heinze for bringing ‘something different’ and ‘winning experience’ to the Emirates months after his arrival. The pair have already got a taste for Premier League glory and will undoubtedly be eyeing European success after suffering a heartbreaking loss on penalties to former club PSG in the Champions League final.
Brighton & Hove Albion ace Carlos Baleba is on Newcastle United’s list of targets this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
It has been a summer of change on Tyneside with three high-profile player exits from the football club and Matthias Jaissle replacing Eddie Howe as head coach.
In terms of the playing squad, the Magpies have cashed in on Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes following their respective transfers to Barcelona, Tottenham and Arsenal.
Players have come in through the door, though, but Jaissle looks to have quite the task on his hands as Newcastle bid to make a fast start to the season.
Newcastle were in pre-season friendly action on Wednesday evening, losing 3-1 to Everton at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Newcastle have added to their midfield with the additions of Steur and Bamba this summer but the loss of Tonali and Guimaraes could prove huge given what they contributed to the team.
Further quality in the middle of the park is needed, with a statement signing in midfield something that would go down incredibly well considering the outgoings ahead of the new term.
“If he plays his position really, really smart, no one can really outplay him or win duels against him. And I think if he concentrates on that and shows his ability then after, on the ball or driving with the ball, it’s frightening what he can do.” – Pascal Gross on Carlos Baleba
Sources have told the Daily Mail that the 22-year-old is one to keep an eye on as the window progresses as he is currently nursing an ankle injury, but he is viewed as an ‘ambitious’ target.
What Baleba would add to Newcastle’s midfield
Baleba has earned rave reviews since joining Brighton from Ligue 1 side Lille in 2023.
Baleba is such a talented midfielder that very few players can outplay him, with Brighton teammate Pascal Gross pointing to his ‘wow’ factor and stating that “it’s frightening what he can do”.
“I think Carlos is so talented, he gives so much to the team. I always think when he’s in good positions he can show his physicality. When he’s not in good positions, sometimes you can’t affect it anymore,” Gross told Brighton & Hove Albion’s official website.
“So if he plays his position really, really smart, no one can really outplay him or win duels against him. And I think if he concentrates on that and shows his ability then after, on the ball or driving with the ball, it’s frightening what he can do.
“I think it’s focus and concentration and keeping it simple then you will see actions where the whole stadium goes ‘Wow’. As a holding midfielder, it’s about reliable consistency and we’re working with him on that.
“Carlos is a top guy and a top player. He did really well against Chelsea. I’m happy for him.”
Arsenal have held talks with Galatasaray over a deal to sign striker Victor Osimhen, according to reports.
The Gunners are understood to be in the market to strengthen their attack this summer, despite winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004 and reaching the Champions League final last season, scoring over 100 goals in all competitions in the process.
But after missing out on Morgan Rogers, and with the future of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in question, Mikel Arteta is keen to provide more competition in the striker position for Viktor Gyokeres, and a move for the Nigerian has now been spoken about with the Turkish champions.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Arsenal and Galatasaray have held formal talks about a deal that could take Osimhen to the Emirates Stadium.
