THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILAN — Inter Milan has reached a deal to sign Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, his agent told Italian media on Thursday.
Josep Maria Mesalles made the announcement after talks with officials from the Serie A champion, and confirmed the Cameroon striker will sign a five-year contract.
"It is not official, but an accord with Inter is done," Mesalles told Sky Italia. "The player is happy. The only problem is negotiating his exit from Barcelona. But within a week it will be resolved.
"Eto’o should be arriving here on Monday or Tuesday. He will sign after his medical and then he will be at the complete disposition of the coach."
Eto’o will arrive from Barcelona with Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb, who will join on loan for a year. Inter’s Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be heading in the opposite direction.
Barcelona said on its webpage that the deal was done pending the "final details," with director general Joan Oliver travelling to Milan late Thursday after Inter officials communicated to the Spanish champions an agreement had been reached with Mesalles.
It is believed that Eto’o is negotiating some type of compensation package for leaving with a year left on his contract and having helped Barcelona to eight important trophies in five seasons.
Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, left Inter’s tour of the United States early to conclude his move in Europe.
."After individual training in the campus at Harvard University and lunch at the hotel, Zlatan Ibrahimovic said goodbye to Jose Mourinho and the team before starting his journey to Sweden," Inter announced on its website.
"The striker, with the club’s permission, left … to conclude the negotiations that he is involved with."
.Eto’o scored 34 goals for Barcelona last season, including one in the Champions League final victory.