Madrid: Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has started legal proceedings against Barcelona demanding three million euros (USD 4.44 million) he said is owed to him from his transfer to Inter Milan, the European champions said on Tuesday.
The player’s agent Jose Maria Mesalles has lodged the claim and if a meeting between the parties fails to reach an agreement the affair will go to court.
A swap deal in July sent Inter’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barca for a 46 million euro fee, with Eto’o, who was valued at 20 million euros, heading to Italy.
Eto’o is basing his demand on Spanish Players Union (AFE) rules, whereby a player has the right to claim 15 percent of any transfer fee paid.
Barca’s legal services said they would defend themselves on the basis that the AFE ruling was only applicable to transfers between Spanish clubs.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 12:24