To say that this has been a trying season for Inter will be an understatement, for the range and torrent of emotions that the Interisiti have gone through has been overwhelming. With the departure of Jose Mourinho, the famed defensive wall has fallen piling humiliation on a team which was known for its impregnable defence last season, the dominance in the domestic league has been felled by Milan, the club were knocked out of Europe by a Schalke side which was absolutely no match to the quality of Inter on paper and almost all of last season’s heroes have fallen. And yet, if the optimistic Inter fan were to take the positives from this season, one man’s exploits will invariably feature amongst the most memorable moments of the season: those of Samuel Eto’o.
The failure of former Rossoneri Leonardo to complete the resurrection job has seen abuses flying from the Milan circles who have revelled in taking a dig at the fall of their hated rivals. Inter have stood through all of this with grace and ended their season with their heads held high by putting spirited performances at the final stretch of the league and winning the Coppa Italia when they could easily have faltered from the misery of being knocked off their perch by Milan. Driving Inter on in the face of misery and being the perfect embodiment of this fighting spirit and ability to be graceful even in the face of defeat has been Samuel Eto’o, who has been without a shred of doubt been Inter’s player of the season.
Eto’o has been at the forefront of the Nerazzurri charge throughout this season, be it leading them single-handedly in the first half when the rest of the team was in tatters, scoring a truck load (37 in total for the season) and playing a part in all the important goals that will be remembered as positives of the season such as the Coppa Italia final and the comeback at Bayern, or putting up a brave face amidst a torrent of racial abuse from the Milanisti during difficult times thus embodying the resilient spirit of Inter. By rising to the top, he has deservedly taken over the mantle of the fallen Prince Diego Milito in a change of guard at the club as Il Principe‘s form has been blighted by injuries and lack of confidence thus making him stand facing an unpleasant exit from the club which he led to the treble a year back.
The fate of Inter is very similar to that of the fallen hero Diego Milito, for the club is at a crucial crossroads and needs a summer of change if they are to catch up with the new rising wave that is Milan. At the heart of their plans lies Samuel Eto’o and it is in the able hands of the Cameroonian striker that Inter’s future lies, for he is the one capable of leading the club into what is heralded as a new era in Italian football with the resurrection of Milan, Napoli and the rise of Udinese putting an end to the one-sidedness that has been associated with Serie A since the Calciopoli. A proven contender who continues to be face racial abuse till this day, Eto’o has always displayed gladiatorial spirit, for he has vehemently come out in support of his club and displayed the lion’s heart of a king by refusing to leave Inter when exit from Italy was seen as a possible solution to end the misery of racism in his life.
“Nothing that happens away from the pitch, though it may upset me as a man, can drive me away from Inter”.
With a rough road ahead, Inter’s hopes will be pinned on their Cameroonian hitman who has now deservedly earned the spotlight after an entire season of staying away from it by choosing to do the dirty work under Jose Mourinho. With some overhauling in the summer, Inter under Leonardo will be a new look side that will look to win by entertaining. Samuel Eto’o, currently in the form of his life, will invariably be at the heart of it as the lead protagonist, just like he has been this season.
Massimo Moratti said, “Eto’o this season was as important for us as Messi was for Barcelona.” It could not be farther from the truth as just like how Messi has come to stand for everything that is good about Barcelona, Samuel Eto’o has become the symbol of Inter standing for every characteristic that is associated with club: resilience, passion and the heart of a lion.
