Former Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos has warned Premier League side Chelsea that new signing Samuel Eto’o could damage the teams morale as he can have a bad influence in the dressing room.
The ex-Anzhi Makhachkala team director revealed in an interview that Eto’o continously tried to get involved with decisions off the field and his actions got so bad, that Carlos himself considered quitting his role at the Russian club.
After Anzhi announced that they were entering a financial crisis, they were forced to sell some of their big name players and the Cameroon international was one of them.
The 32-year-old was earning around £360k-a-week in Russia, but he completed his transfer to Chelsea this summer, but unfortunately for The Blues, Carlos believes that he could bring troubles with him.
He said: ‘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, but there a part of him that thinks ‘I, and not the group’, which is really damaging.
‘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.’
Carlos then continued: ‘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.’
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
