Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 7y

Eto'o wants to leave Antalyaspor for 'one last challenge' - agent

Samuel Eto'o is seeking to join the 12th club of his professional career after his agent told footmercato.net the striker wants to leave Antalyaspor.

Eto'o, 36, moved to the Turkish club in 2015, and has since contributed an impressive 38 league goals and 11 assists, helping them to an unprecedented fifth-place finish last season.

However, the former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan striker has just 12 months left on his current deal, and his agent Wilfried de Happi says he is looking elsewhere.

He said: "I think the player has the right to be respected. We want to go to a club that recognises the player's true worth. He has shown he can still play at a high level, could take on one last challenge.

"We have told the Antalyaspor president we want to leave. We got a contract extension offer that wasn't exceptional while we had other more significant offers from clubs, some of whom are playing in the Champions League or the Europa League.

"Having rejected quite a few offers before, notably from China, we were expecting a gesture from Antalyaspor for services rendered, particularly after the historic fifth-place finish in the league."

Eto'o has been linked to Fenerbahce, though De Happi claimed the Antalyaspor president had told him he would not let the veteran forward join another Turkish club, while a foreign side would have to pay €3 million to secure his services.

Eto'o has featured in his club's three league games to date this season, and De Happi maintained his client would continue playing for Antalyaspor, though he added the ex-Chelsea and Everton man may not be as productive.

"Samuel is a professional," he said. "He has a contract and he'll respect it. If he has to play, he'll play. When a player isn't happy, he can't give 100 percent. Especially a player like Samuel, who has always been a great professional, needs to feel confident and feel wanted.

"He has always been a great defender of respect. But if the situation persists, he won't be able to play as he did in the previous season."

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