By Guillaume K. | Sports journalist
Before exploding in Spain and becoming a legend of modern football, Samuel Eto'o tried his luck in France, without success. He remained in an irregular situation for several months, which made his life an ordeal…
Samuel Eto'o is an absolute legend in the world of football, one of the most memorable strikers of this century. Thanks to his speed but also great technical quality, he was able to climb the ranks to wear the jersey of the most prestigious clubs on the planet. Because like all the most coveted players, the Cameroonian has traveled a lot.
In 22 years of career, Eto'o has indeed passed through Spain, from which he obtained nationality in 2007, through Italy, Russia, England, Turkey and finally Qatar. A list which does not include France, although it is in France that he set down his bags when he was younger with the hope of entering a training center…
Samuel Eto'o honest about his time in France
Despite his immense talent and numerous attempts, no recruiter had been impressed by his profile. In addition to his disappointment and this feeling of failure, Samuel Eto'o also had to deal with complicated living conditions. Undocumented and in the heart of winter, his daily life was far from easy for a teenager of around fifteen. He spoke for France 24 :
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I made the wrong decision, like any young African who dreams of succeeding in Europe. I decided to remain undocumented. I arrive in France with a 10-day visa only. I first go to Marseille, Avignon and then I decide to stay in Paris, at Notre-Dame. Ultimately I stay here for several months. It was a difficult time because I stayed in Paris for several months without papers.
I only left my accommodation two or three times because, at the time, everyone was suspected of being undocumented. And when they caught you, they sent you home. It was really very difficult because when I went out it was really very cold.
Arriving in France with a visa of only 10 days, Samuel Eto'o did not see himself returning to the country without having given everything to make his dream come true… He therefore remained in the territory clandestinely and hid between two trials in professional clubs . The former Indomitable Lions striker visibly regrets this somewhat crazy decision, especially since it was once back in Cameroon that he caught the eye of Real Madrid…
For many young Africans who dream of breaking into professional sport, Europe is seen as the land of all possibilities. Samuel Eto'o thought so too, but it's good once back in Cameroon that it exploded.
