Ibrahimovic Bids Farewell To Inter; Barcelona To Sever Eto'o Ties

The big summer swap deal is nearing completion, although there is some work still to be done...

Samuel Eto'o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barcelona-Inter
The long-awaited swap deal between Barcelona and Inter for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto'o took a step further to completion today following the news that 'Ibra' is returning to Europe to sign his Camp Nou deal.

Meanwhile Samuel Eto'o's agent revealed mere hours ago that his client has agreed a package with Inter thought to be worth in the region of €10.5 million per year for five seasons.

Ibra bid farewell to Inter coach Jose Mourinho and the players today at the American training camp before boarding a flight for Sweden. From there he will travel to confirm final terms with Barcelona.

Barcelona themselves are geared up for the transfer, too, as club CEO Joan Oliver flies to Milan to iron out some final details following Inter's admission that Eto'o is willing to join the Nerazzurri.


When these few outstanding issues are resolved, the transfer should go ahead. Monday is thought to be the date on which all loose ends will be tied up.

State Of Play

If you're having trouble keeping up with one of this summer's more confusing sagas, here is the exact situation, correct at time of this article's publication. Be sure to check the latest article for the latest updates!
  • Samuel Eto'o has agreed terms with Inter, but has not yet agreed payment of his loyalty bonus from Barcelona. Until this issue is resolved he will not consent to a transfer.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic's path to settling a formal agreement with Barcelona is thought to be without obstacles. (Italian sources state that he will take a pay cut to €9m per annum, but that this is balanced out by Spain's having a lower tax rate than Italy.)
  • FC Barcelona have already offered a fee between €45m and €52m, plus Eto'o, plus the loan of Aliaksandr Hleb, in exchange for Ibrahimovic.
  • Inter have already accepted the above offer.
Steve Michaels, Goal.com

Talk all things soccer with the rest of our readers in the Goal.com Forums!
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Comments
102 Comments
 
Advertisement
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  1. DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream

    In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.

  2. ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein

    Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.

  3. LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction

    With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?

  4. ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment

    Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.

  5. VERTELNEY: MLS owners take to Twitter to spread their team's word VERTELNEY: MLS owners take to Twitter to spread their team's word

    "Any time you tweet, it's a mini press conference," says Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson.

 
Advertisement
Advertisement