THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BARCELONA — Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o is demanding about three million euros (US$4.76 million) from former club Barcelona as part of the deal under he which was transferred Inter Milan.
Lawyers for both the club and player are to meet in court in the coming weeks to try to reach a settlement but club officials said Tuesday that an agreement was unlikely and the case is expected to go to court.
The 28-year-old Eto’o filed the claim against the European champions demanding payment of 15 per cent of his transfer deal, Barcelona said.
Barcelona argues that this transfer stipulation applies only to deals between Spanish clubs. In any case, Barcelona says it would be the club buying the player which should make the payment.
But Spanish news reports pointed out that in a case involving the transfer of striker Albert Luque to Newcastle in 2008, a court ruled that his former Spanish club Deportivo Coruna should pay the sum.
Eto’o scored 30 goals for Barcelona last season, including the opener in the Champions League final win over Manchester United.