Samuel Eto’o: Anzhi are paying me what they think I am worth

Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o has rejected suggestions alleging he moved to Anzhi Makhachkala just for the money and said he sees himself as a trailblazer to promote football in Russia.

«I don’t care what people think. I think all of us want to work and get paid what we are worth. Anzhi made an offer, which was at the same level as my talent, and they are paying me what they think I am worth.»

«He (Kerimov) told me he wanted to build a big team and he had thought about me as someone who could lead that project.

«It touched me because I had only seen myself as a professional player, not a project leader, and this new challenge was important to me. I was offered a great deal and we reached an arrangement quite quickly.»

«I have to tell you that practically every day I get a (text) message or a phone call from a high-profile player who wonders whether there are opportunities to come here,» he Eto’o said in an interview with CNN.