Calderon concedes Eto'o error - TalkSoccer

**Oliver_Kahn** · 31-12-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has admitted Los Merengues made a major error of judgement when they allowed Samuel Eto'o to leave and sign for arch rivals Barcelona.

Real agreed to sell their stake in the Cameroon hit-man in the summer of 2004 and he has since gone on to prove a major hit at Camp Nou.

He has netted over 50 goals for the Catalans and provided the spearhead for a team who have now won back-to-back Spanish titles.

"Evidently, to let Eto'o leave was an error," Calderon confessed. "He has more than demonstrated this, because Samuel, if he is not the best, then he is among the three or four best forwards in the world.

"He is an exceptional player and I admire sportsmen like him, because he has been exemplary with his fight and effort to prevail.

"I will always support this type of player."

Calderon was on the Real board when the decision was taken to sell Eto'o, but insisted he did not agree with the move even if he had no choice but to back it.

"Yes that's true (I was on the board), but the directors had no say at the time over technical decisions," he continued. "It was up to the coach and the sports director at the time.

"The same holds true for today. For example, if Fabio Capello and (sports director Predrag) Mijatovic told me they wanted to sell Eto'o I would have to agree. I wouldn't like it, but I would agree."

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**Oliver_Kahn** · 31-12-2006, 06:12 PM

It's too late to regret now

**Pennywise** · 01-01-2007, 01:35 PM

It is, hehe

Sending Eto'o to Barcelona was a wrong decision, but done is done.

Madrid had Ronaldo, Raul, Owen and Morientes in the squad on that time, unfortunately..

**LAF** · 01-01-2007, 06:20 PM

This is clearly a dig at the previous regime. He's trying to distance himself from it.

MUFC · 01-01-2007, 07:36 PM

He wouldnt have got in anyway and you dont know how things turn out in football. Would Eto have fitted in at Madrid even if he had played?

**Sven** · 01-01-2007, 07:38 PM

Ye I would think so, Hes a fantastic player in La liga.

he wouldnt be like sheva moving from serie A to epl.

**LAF** · 01-01-2007, 07:39 PM

I'm sure Capello would have given him a chance.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 01-01-2007, 07:44 PM

I think Eto'o might had been great for Real, if Real had given him a chance.

**Pennywise** · 03-01-2007, 07:33 PM

Well, this was a timer under an other managment and manager, but I think Eto'o had done a great job for Los Merengues.

Real Madrid were the club that discover Eto'o and developed him, but sad that they sent him to Mallorca - and then FCB.

Madrid have done a big error in several years, both under Queiroz, Lux, Camacho, Lopez Caro and now Capello. They are using the big names instead of players that had done a better job. I'm thinking espesially of Raul, Guti, Salgado, Beckham, maybe Carlos..