Roberto Carlos, the former Real Madrid and Brazil full-
back, has warned Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
about the “damaging” influence Samuel Eto’o can have
in the dressing room following his surprise transfer to
Stamford Bridge.
Carlos, who managed Eto’o during his time in charge of
Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, claimed that the
Cameroonian almost forced him to quit after persistently
interfering with matters outside of his jurisdiction.
“There’s a part of him that thinks ‘I, and not the group’,
which is really damaging,” said Carlos. “When a
footballer, instead of playing, is interested in signing
players who are his friends . . . it’s confusing and
strange. He did everything at Anzhi, except play
football.”
Depite his criticism of the new Chelsea striker who
could make his debut against Everton at the weekend,
Carlos admitted that he was fond of the 32-year-old.
“I’ve known Eto’o since I was 16, and from that time on
he’s always been a good guy who I’ve liked a lot. He’s
a good person,” Carlos said in an interview with
Brazilian newspaper Globoesporte.
However, Carlos added that managing the forward at
Anzhi Makhachkala was a different matter entirely.
“I came to the club and in my first year we finished in
the top five. We managed to professionalise the team.
In the second year, we signed Eto’o and I had control
of the team – I organised the players and worked with
the coach. I put Anzhi among the best.
“With the arrival of Eto’o, with the values of everyone
involved, I had some little problems in the dressing
room and had to talk to the Russian players and explain
why Eto’o was there.
“However, a moment arrived when Eto’o thought to
interfere with my work, to control the club, taking my
position and that of Guus [Hiddink, the coach].
“We talked about one thing, and then he went to the
players and talked about another. That stressed me out
and I warned that I would pack my bags and go.
“No one believed me because I had a four-year
contract. But then I called Anzhi and came to an
agreement.”
Carlos has subsequently left Anzhi, while Eto’o moved
to west London after the Russian club’s owner,
Suleyman Kerimov, ordered a firesale of players, which
included midfielder Willian’s move to Chelsea.
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