Eto'o reveals summer bids

Barca star turned down Lyon, Uzbek offers

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 1st September 2008

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o

Eto'o: Huge Uzbek offer

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o has revealed he turned down offers to join Lyon and a team in Uzbekistan this summer.

Lyon were unable to meet Eto'o's wage demands although the Cameroon international admitted he would consider joining the French champions in the future.

"Lyon made a big effort but I could not go there," Eto'o told TF1's Telefoot programme.

"I want to thank their president Jean-Michel Aulas for his interest, even though they could not match what I asked for.

"I have friends at Lyon such as Jean Makoun and maybe one day I could go there. For someone from Cameroon like me to live in France would be great."

Bumper offer

Uzbek club Kuruvchi claimed they had agreed a deal with Eto'o, offering the 27-year-old a bumper package, but he decided against a short-term stay in the footballing outpost.

"They offered me $25million to spend two or three months there," he added.

"My head was spinning because of that offer but everyone had to understand that as a Cameroon international, I had to aim higher and play for a big club. That was why I could not accept that offer."

Eto'o was expected to leave Barca this summer but is set to lead the line for the Spanish giants again this term after impressing new coach Pep Guardiola in pre-season.