In the summer of 2009, everybody knew of the footballing sensation that was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Blessed with extraordinary technical ability and monstrous accuracy, the Swedish hitman was one of the most prolific goalscorers on the planet. However, was he really worth £36 plus Samuel Etoo? The 28 year old Cameroonian international had scored goals in two victorious Champions League finals for Barcelona, and 127 other goals during his five seasons in Catalonia. He too was one of the most feared marksmen in Europe, so to cheaply toss him away as a makeweight in the deal for Ibrahimovic had outsiders questioning their sanity. For all the Swedish goalscorers talents, he had failed to truly deliver in the Champions League, never having even reached the semi-final in the competition before. Etoo was a proven victor at the highest level. Including the Cameroonian, the deal was valued at £57 million, making Ibrahimovic one of the most expensive transfers of all time.
''It feels like Im living a dream now. It was not easy for me in the last few weeks. I made an agreement with the president of Inter that the only club they could sell me to was Barcelona. The others could ask but they wouldnt get a reply. The only one I answered was Barca. - Zlatan Ibrahimovic, July 2009.
As it happens, the volatile Swede lasted one season at the Nou Camp, after failing to settle and having a bust-up with Pep Guardiola, while the club he had left behind subsequently won the Champions League without him. For those reasons, Etoos third Champions League medal probably felt the sweetest of all. So that's a wrap - do you agree? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
