Samuel Eto’o decries 'crisis' of 'unattractive' Italian football

The Cameroonian spent two seasons at Inter, winning the Champions League in 2010, and the new Blucerchiato believes Italy needs something similar to attract the top names.

“[Serie A is] Not very attractive,” Eto’o conceded at a Press conference to officially announce his signing.

“Not because the standard is low, but because Italian teams haven’t won at European level.

“There are big clubs like Juventus, who I consider to be on the same level as the European clubs, but the problem is they aren’t winning.

“When I arrived [at Inter], we had the same problem, then we won and gained everyone’s respect.

“[Italian football] is in a moment of crisis, there aren’t really the budgets, but football is what happens inside a stadium. I hope Samp can win everything, and not talk about a crisis.

“I met the President [Massimo Ferrero] in London, and I didn’t know he was the Sampdoria President. He told me his dreams, and I want to share those dreams with the fans.

“The President is within his rights to dream, my life has been a dream, I come from a poor country which I consider to be the most beautiful in the world.

“I have always scored and dreamed, and I think the President is right to dream and try to achieve those dreams."

Eto’o did however deny one rumour - that Ferrero will make a film of his life.

“The President isn’t obliged to make any movie. What I want is to get results, with the help of my teammates.

“Could I play at Torino? Yes."

Perhaps he didn't put it as diplomatically as one might have hoped, but Eto'o was absolutely spot on in his assessment of the situation. It's rare and refreshing to hear such honest analysis - mixed with plenty of determination and optimism, of course. Being a 33-year-old with a contract until the summer of 2018 probably doesn't hurt when it comes to provoking that honesty, though.