La Liga - Uzbek side "sign" Eto'o

Eurosport - Mon, 14 Jul 15:26:00 2008

Uzbekistan League side Kuruvchi claim to have reached a deal to sign Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o - though the Catalan giants have laughed off the news.

2008 Samuel Eto'o - 0

Eto'o, who has been told he is not part of coach Pep Guardiola's plans, is expected to leave the Camp Nou this summer and has been linked with moves to Serie A and the Premier League.

On Monday morning, though, the Uzbekistan League leaders announced in an official statement on their website that they had landed the 27-year-old forward on a six-month deal.

The news was confirmed by Kuruvchi sporting director Bahtier Babayev, who has said Eto'o will sign with the club later this week on a contract to be determined by performances.

"Eto'o will arrive in Tashkent on Thursday and he will sign a contract with our club, at least up until the end of 2008," Babayev said.

"The term of the contract will depend on our performance in the AFC Champions League. We will play Saipa in the quarter-finals and Eto'o is our main purchase before the knockout stage of the tournament.

"If we can agree with the player, he will continue to play for our club in the future."

Babayev also insisted that the seemingly unlikely transfer had been made possible due to good relations between the Liga side and the Tashkent club.

"The defining moment of the transfer was not money, but the friendly mutual relations between the management of our club and Barcelona," he said.

"The personal friendship between presidents of the clubs has noticeably lowered the transfer fee."

However, despite the Uzbekistan club's insistence that the transfer will go ahead, Barcelona denied any knowledge of the move.

An official spokesperson for the Catalan side said: "Nobody at the club knows anything about this. I don't think it's very likely."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. yes that's true kuruvchi is unnown fc,but it too improve football in club and in uzbekistan there is need for such professionals and that club can afford to buy 20 of such like eto'o's for if need...

    From huge, on Sun 24 Aug 4:29PM
  2. And about my A-Leaue comment I just want to make it clear that I am currently living in Australia lol even though I'm Serbian.

    From aleksicn93, on Fri 18 Jul 1:36PM
  3. I have nothing against Eto'o playing for Kuruvchi, but some of you Kuruvchi fans are extremely ignorant and only make yourselves look more stupid by saying how great Kuruvchi is. If they are so great and have so much money, then why aren't C Ronaldo, Torres, Robinho, Ronaldinho, van Nisterooy, Ballack etc. playing for them. If this club is truly as great as you say it is, then why have they never win the FIFA Club World Cup, and correct me if I'm wrong, have they ever even won the Asian Champions League? Sure, they got to the quarterfinals of the Asian Champs League, but there is no way in the world that you can compare that to the UEFA Champions League, nor the Asia Cup to the Euros. Sure, the team that I support, Red Star Belgrade of Serbia have won the UEFA Champions League in 1991 along with the Club World Cup, and have a great history before that, but that does no mean they are the best club in the world. Sure, at that time they were, but now they are just one of Europe's average clubs. My point is that you Uzbeks and Kuruvchi supporters can not say your club and country is so great unless you have evidence to prove it. And nobody gives a @#$% if some Uzbeks were involved in historical events such as assisting the finding of medicine. Nikola Tesla was Serbian and he invented elecrticity, and currently Serbians are doing extremely well in sports such as tennis, waterpolo, basketball and volleyball but you don't hear us braggng about in in a topic that isn't relevant to it.
    Greetings from Serbia.

    From aleksicn93, on Fri 18 Jul 1:34PM
  4. Best for him to come to the ever expanding A-League and provide some entertainment for us here down under.

    From aleksicn93, on Fri 18 Jul 1:05PM
  5. I understand why its unbelievable to some stupid people in Europe, America, or rest of Asia, because u don't know anything about this team. The owner is a billionaire and well known in Europe, I mean the rich people. He is a very smart business man.
    We all have to wait and see.

    From a.fozilkhodja, on Fri 18 Jul 10:52AM
  6. To Yusuf and anyone who insults Uzbekistan.

    Deep @#$%s, only uzbeks and borat may insult other uzbeks and uzbekistan. U guys shut your mouth or my hand will appear through your monitors and will cut your testicles. @#$% faces.

    From maktubim, on Fri 18 Jul 6:32AM
  7. Send his @#$% back, he aint good for uzbek league.

    Yasha eng buyuk Ozbekiston!!!!!!!

    P.S the man behind Kuruvchi can buy Barsa all together. meanwhile me and and 22 million like myself eat @#$% on a daily basis

    From maktubim, on Fri 18 Jul 6:18AM
  8. He desrves to play in Ozbekistan, that's his class.
    His professionality class is too low. he left Barca because Barca didn't win any trophy.
    He can't be named as a professional player so he deserves to play in an unprofessional league as the Ozbek league.

    From Jaafar, on Thu 17 Jul 10:31PM
  9. no stay at barca and help henry or come back to arsenal with henry. we will take you both and dump ada. we have nasri to mesmerise them

    From allistere b, on Thu 17 Jul 7:00PM
  10. For those who did not believe that Eto'O will play for Kuruvchi. Go to PFC Kuruvchi or any web site and read news.

    From Mansur, on Thu 17 Jul 6:00AM
  11. Let's see... if it's about money, then SAMUEL ETO'O would certainly prefer these clubs as his next destinations:

    Al-Sadd (Qatar), Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli (Saudi), Al-Ain (UAE) - Arab clubs who are much richer and have more money and prestige than emm... traditionally the 3rd best club in Uzbekistan. OR...

    Urawa Reds, Gamba Osaka (Japan) Suwon Bluewings (S.Korea) or even for PAKHTAKOR, if he wants to consider playing in a prestigious club or, in case of Japan and Korea, playing in a competitive surrounding in Asia with good pay. OR...

    Go to the US and play Major League Soccer like Beckham, surely they will want him and pay him a fortune. And since ETO'O himself is quite a 'playa' who loves the night scene and hollywood, this may not be a bad career move! OR...

    If SAMUEL ETO'O really, really wants to take it easy (really easy) meaning he doesnt need to work hard but still can get very rich paypacket, he might be better off choosing to play for clubs in oil-rich Brunei (whatever clubs) or for the SAFFC or Home United in Singapore or even for Selangor, Kedah or Perak in little known Malaysian League, just because it's easy there to play and get millions in salary! There's also A-League (Australian) teams like Sydney United (where Dwight Yorke used to play for a while to get some pocket money) or Newcastle Jets, the leagus is quite competitive and they can also pay good money...

    So, all of the above are certainly better choices for Samuel Eto'o if he decides to play for money outside of the big five European league i.e. SErie A, EPL, Spain's La Liga, Bundesliga in Germany or in the France Ligue 1. So many other clubs that makes me think that this thing about Samuel Eto'o signing for KURUVCHI was certainly a HOAX!!! Luckily for all, it's an amusingly funny hoax not meant to be taken seriously, just like UZBEKISTAN not to be taken seriously... hahahahahaha....

    From addicted2soccer, on Wed 16 Jul 9:52PM
  12. LOL... hahaha... very funny!

    KURUVCHI is not even THE BEST club in UZBEK bcos PAKHTAKOR is the best and have better tradition and is much more well known to the rest of the world. I mean come on, KURUVCHI is only leading the UZBEK league and only in the quarterfinal of the AFC Champions League - in both cases, they have not won anything yet!

    And with regards to Alisher Usmanov he only own s 24% of Arsenal and not THE OWNER of Arsenal F.C, whereas others like Russians Abramovich and Gaydamak (Chelsea & Portsmouth) and even a Thai Thaksin Sinawatra actually fully owning EPL clubs, but i dont see many Russians and Thai people boasting and shouting so loud about it.... so my point here is simple. it's OK to dream, and it's OK to be proud of one's own country and have national pride etc. but what is really NOT OK is when you all shout it out loud like you all owns the world! Eto'o may not even sign for KURUVCHI and i hope he doesn't... bcos i think if it's for money, certainly Arab clubs from Saudi and Qatar can offer Eto'o much better deal!

    Hahahahaha.... funny...

    From addicted2soccer, on Wed 16 Jul 9:30PM
  13. to YUSUF.
    Think before you write something, or simple Shut the f*ck up! YES, if all the cows like YOU are sold, that would not be enough to buy/hire samuel. YES, samuel can't play football with the cows, he can't play football with the cows like YOU.

    to DERCUTE.
    It does no seems that you are stupid like MrExcluse E said. I am %200 sure that you ARE stupid. Stupid is not the word to describe you, I would rather say you ARE a shithead. Try to find your country on the map, there is a %100 guarantee that is a impossibe misson for you. Because your head is full of @#$%, not a brain.

    From Mansur, on Wed 16 Jul 12:24PM
  14. gud luck Kuruvchi !!!

    From odilbeky, on Wed 16 Jul 11:47AM
  15. Hey Dercute, it seems that you r really stupid...:), just check fifa's world ranking...Uzbekistan is allways between 50 and 60, you have to learn more about geography.....and try to find your location first...then try to find Uzbekistan, if you want to know about Uzbeks, you can contact with me, and you will know...who are the uzbeks. :)

    From MrExclusive E, on Wed 16 Jul 7:12AM
  16. Uzbek,,, where on mars is that country? why would Eto go to a country unknown to even its citizen. they are rated 5000 on fifa world rankings. and as the only country outside of earth to be placed on the fifa world ranking list. that would be so funny.. eto going to play on mars.

    From dercute, on Wed 16 Jul 4:47AM
  17. u guys are not good people....Think before Talking about great nations....! Have you seen what was happened to Russian Giant Valuev,.....? Uzbek boxer won over him with his hard punches.. have you seen What Muhammad Kadir Abdullaev has done.in Olympic Games..... ok.....ok now you know about Uzbek Power...:)....now listen to me, and you will have knowledge , how Uzbek Mind is....:)....i would like to talk about history ....i will remind a bit about Uzbeks! have you ever heard about Ibn Sina..the Father of Medicine.....? You People....have you ever heard about Abu Rayhan Beruniy....

    do you know about Rustam Kasymdjanov....just google his name..or just wiki him :)

    Guys if you want to know more.....just email me.....i will write you with pleasure.....
    the more you know...the more you feel, that there is a genius nation in the Central Asia....and soon Uzbeks show their potential for you....and you will enjoy .! :)

    All of my respect due to you .!......:)

    From MrExclusive E, on Wed 16 Jul 2:01AM
  18. Goshhhhhhhhhhhhhh, all the cows in uzbek sold cant aford Etoo, moreover samuel cant play with cows

    From yusuf a, on Tue 15 Jul 10:24PM
  19. hahaha i can't stop laugfing when i see this article and the comments wow ...the fans of this club are stupid ..trust me u wouldn't be able to pay his salary so stop dreamin comme back on earth

    From PinkFlirt659357, on Tue 15 Jul 9:35PM
  20. Hey guys over there, I am confident that your disappointment is nothing more than just an envy. You can't stand this news because you do not have such a rich team as Kuruvchi who could afford Eto'o for $40 mln! Kuruvchi is one of the richest teams in the world and can buy any player in any number from anywhere they wish.

    1. Uzbek football has a high potential and the only reason for your statements such as "unknown championship, unknown team" is that you do not know the football history. If you make a little research you will find out about Pakhtakor, another super Uzbek club, read its history and you will rethink what you have written here!

    2. Kuruvchi and Uzbek championship have very strong financial standing. Do not forget that Alisher Usmanov, holding 24% stake of Arsenal, and one of the sponsors of Kuruvchi, is UZBEK FROM UZBEKISTAN! Eventually Arsenal will be ours! I am sure that Kuruvchi and Arsenal will cooperate and further boost Uzbek football and its prestige!

    3. We have one of the best football schools in the world. The fact that you do not know this team or this championship does not mean that you will never hear of them!!! Did you know Chelsea 10 years ago? Highly unlikely. But I am confident that you have heard of this team when Abramovich bought them.

    4. Kuruvchi is now in quaterfinal of Asian Champions League, no doubt we shall be the CHAMPION!

    One of the visitors wrote that he would not watch soccer if Eto'o comes to Uzbekistan. I am sure that the world of football spectators will not become poor due to it, go and look after your cows, sheep. OK.

    Another visitor wrongly thought that Borat is about us, Uzbeks. This statement shows you knowledge of geography and history! HOW STUPID YOU ARE!!! Watch it again stupid:)

    UNLIKE MANY OTHERS I SHALL BE ABLE TO WATCH ETO'O 'S GAME IN STADIUM IN TASHKENT!

    No matter what others say, I AM PROUD OF KURUVCHI AND BEING AN UZBEK. LET'S SHOW OTHERS WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO!!!

    From Mr. Ikromjon, on Tue 15 Jul 4:35PM
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