guest writer Richard Hall Originally the Nerazzurri could not believe it, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had gone but in return they had 46 million Euros and even better they had Samuel Eto'o. Now, half a season since the Cameroonian left for Russia the question is being asked, ‘Did Moratti sell the wrong man?

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Happy New Year from all of us at the Philly Soccer Page. The Union's first kick is only 70 days away.

Some New Year Tweets

Philadelphia Union: Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for a memorable 2011...see you in 2012! #DOOP

Philadelphia Independence: Have a safe and wonderful New Year Independence fans, WPS fans, Soccer fans!

:raeioul
Raul Orozco ha realizado un muy buen trabajo con estas caricaturas de futbolistas internacionales, de todos sabores y colores, solo que son trazos para colorear, ¿Puedes reconocer a todos los jugadores de futbol que aparecen en estas imagenes?
Intentalo en los comentarios de este entrada.

:raeioul
Raul Orozco ha realizado un muy buen trabajo con estas caricaturas de futbolistas internacionales, de todos sabores y colores, solo que son trazos para colorear, ¿Puedes reconocer a todos los jugadores de futbol que aparecen en estas imagenes?
Intentalo en los comentarios de este entrada.

Samuel Eto'o has continued to hint that his long-term future lies way from the Russian league, implying that he might end up at Chelsea in the coming years.

Eto'o was rising to prominence at Mallorca when then-Blues boss Claudio Ranieri attempted to bring the striker to Stamford Bridge.

However, the Cameroon international opted to join Barcelona in 2004 and went on to enjoy five great years in Catalunya before moving on to another two successful seasons at Inter.

So the Italian press, including La Gazetta dello Sport (who published this photo of Samuel Eto'o in his Ferrari... oooh!) are all rubbing their hands over the prospect of the striker returning to Milan for a brief spell. Well, obviously he's not going to ditch his lavish private jet and everything that comes with playing for Russian Cha-cha-millionaires Anzhi in exchange for dreary, boring mozzarella cheese (kkk, quite the contrary actually).

By Kaushik Lakshman

Last week we saw a bizarre transfer when Al-Ain announced that they will be signing Asamoah Gyan on a one year loan at ridiculous wages. Gyan obviously took the option. Many questioned the move, accusing him of being a money grabber, accusing him of making a terrible move with respect to his career and what not.

So the new Serie A season is upon us once more. So far the typical clichés have proven to be incorrect. The age old stereotype of Italian defences being impenetrable was shattered with 37 goals being scored in the opening weekend. Much focus was placed upon Gian Piero Gasperini's favoured 3-4-3 system and how this would allow Internazionale to regain their Serie A crown, from bitter city rivals.

As I sit here watching Sky Sports News tediously round up a number of what will probably end up being completely insignificant transfers, I can't help but think of the deals being rushed through on the continent which could have a far greater impact on the global game.

Looking beyond the narrow gaze of our national mainstream media, I have highlighted three continental transfers were noting and as intriguing as anything likely to happen involving any Premier League club tonight.

Samuel Eto'o may have only been an Inter player for two seasons, but the legacy he leaves behind will never be forgotten. "The Lion King" came to Inter in the summer of 2009, as somewhat of an afterthought in the blockbuster Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona deal. Many people questioned how the Nerazzurri were going to survive without the talent and skill of the Swede and if Eto'o would be able to.

New Anzhi Makhachkala signing Samuel Eto'o has made an instant impact for his new club by scoring the equalizer in a 1-1 draw away at FK Rostov.

The signing of the Cameroonian international has raised many eyebrows throughout the world of football especially given the huge wages that he is reported to be earning, something akin to 20 million euros a year.

Gazzetta dello Sport Ibrrra, Messi is there Forlan in Milan today? They won't play No Match day 1 as Serie A players go on strike Player Rep, AIC President Damiano Tommasi offers extension til June but gets but no good. "The players are disappointed as they can't take to the field. But the Lega has been after this for 18 months.

Samuel Eto'o is regarded within the game as one of the lead campaigners supporting football's bid to rid the game of the cancer that is racism.

So it comes as somewhat of a surprise that the Cameroon striker looks set to leave Inter for a team in the Russian Premier Division, a league notorious for having a huge problem with racist behaviour amongst fans.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has signed a world record breaking £345,000 per week deal at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala. The former Inter Milan striker was signed by the Russian side this week in a £22 million transfer, but his wages alone will set them back much more.

According to The Sun, Eto'o's pay packet leaves him earning £345,000 per week after taxes, which is a staggering amount for a 30 year old, and makes him the highest earning footballer in the world.

By Chris Wright

Nice work if you can get it...

Image: Sky Sports

2010-11 Recap After the euphoria of the previous season's treble, the Nerazzurri had to settle for just the Coppa Italia last term as their cross city rivals AC Milan were crowned kings of Italy. Following in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho was never going to be easy but when President Massimo Morratti appointed former Liverpool tactician Rafael Benitez to take over from the self titled.

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images (Bleacher Report)Hundreds of transfer rumors have come and gone this summer. There has been no lack of excitement built up by fans, only to have their hearts crushed by a move that just did not happen for their club.
So many moves remain on the table, but the majority of the major deals look likely to have been done for the summer.

Union

Ugh. The Union are now in fourth place. Ugh.

Peter Nowak on the Sheanon Williams handball:

For me it is physically impossible to see, from the angle the referee was running, and how far away he was. It is physically impossible is what I can say. And make a call like that, in a game like that?

By Chris Wright

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWW YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

As you may or may not be aware, Samuel Eto'o is on the brink of signing for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala (they who currently employ Roberto Carlos and force all their new signings don 'traditional' sheepskin carpets and hats), with Massimo Morratti, several Inter execs and the player's agent all confirming that the move is nearing it's completion over the course of the past couple of days.

Gazzetta dello Sport Eto'o opens the door to the Russians Balotelli, Mancini has had enough Ibra has never started so well Del Piero has a plan to take back Juve Bari waits for Cassano Tuttosport Elia in a hurry, Vargas meeting Milan ready to tie down Allegri Toro back in for Gazzi and Alvarez Eto'o now keeps Inter in check Chievo, Paloschi netted.

Down goes Thiago Motta but check out the special event jersey. At least Inter fans in the Far East were given something to remember their heroes by as it was not the final scoreline that caused them to jump for joy. Hopefully for Nerazzurri tifosi this image won't mirror the Italian Serie A season ahead.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images (Bleacher Report) Lionel Messi has stolen the Champion's League spotlight this year as he leads the competition with 11 goals as Pep Guardiola's Barcelona team heads into the final against Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Messi's two goals against archrival Real Madrid in the first leg of their eventual triumph were what allowed the Blaugrana to advance, and he will be keen to continue his success this year and hopefully help his side raise the Champions League Trophy once more.

Gian Piero Gasperini turns back time, taking to the pitch for the 14th edition of the Fulvio Currò Memorial Inter.it TORRIGLIA (Genoa) United in the name of Fulvio Currò, for the 14th edition of the memorial dedicated to the 25-year-old Engineering student killed by a brain aneurysm in 1998. Gian Piero Gasperini took part in the traditional football tournament alongside sports stars,.

All week we have unveiled the winners of our Team of the Year voting with a mixture of regular and guest writers. Here's your winner for every position, starting with TB's take on the strikers. There are a multitude of fantastic strikers plying their trade in Serie A, but for the 2010-11 season, two names rose to the top: Napoli's Edinson Cavani and Inter's Samuel.

Nickspinkboots' Note: Kiran Vr from Inside Manchester United is back and this time he's here to tell you what the most important muscle in Ryan Giggs's body is. Take your minds out of the gutter, I don't mean THAT. I'm talking about the brain (although, it doesn't have muscles technically).

The eight remaining teams in Europe's premier competition go head to head and the tie could not have come at a better – or worse – time for Italy's last hope Internazionale. Qasa Alom looks ahead to this week's action The reigning European champions have been in heroic form recently, epitomized by their last gasp victory over Bayern Munich in the last round of the Champions League as well as.

It's already being dubbed as the game of the season by all the pundits in Serie A. In addition to it being a derby, only two points separate league leaders Milan from a resurgent Inter side. The San Siro will be packed this weekend with the rest of Serie A keen on the result of the affair. From all intents and purposes, it should be a cracking affair.

(Summary is not available.)

Bayern Munich vs Inter a smash and grab? naaa more like a monster mash a la Internazionale, with all fault of losing lying at the feet of Bayern players and perhaps the woodwork on one or two occasions. "After seeing Bayern miss so many chances, we told ourselves that qualification was not lost," said Inter's Lucio while Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger referring to.

Champions League final16 second leg, Bayern vs Internazionale Tuesday night sees German Champions, Bayern Munich, attempt to complete a second act of revenge upon their Italian rivals Inter Milan. The two giants face off in their second leg of the Champions League quarter final. Both teams have experienced differing form in recent weeks, with Bayern struggling to catch Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

Empty Glasses, Flat Caps And James Horncastle Being off the internet airways for 14 days, Adam and Kevin return in episode 9.1 joined by James Horncastle, one of Calcio's most well respected journalists and contributor to Jonathan Wilson's fantastic new project "The Blizzard" . From Bologna's Marco Di Vaio to Milan's Thiago Silva the boys get James' take.

The evening of Sunday February 13, 2011 featured the Derby d'Italia as Juventus hosted Inter in Torino. Inter, after a rocky start under Rafa Benitez, has found new life under the coaching of Leonardo and came into Torino on a 3 match win streak. Meanwhile, Juventus has been suffering an inconsistent season in which hopes of winning the Scudetto have switched to hopes of just making the Champions League cut.

Inter-Roma is no ordinary clash between two title rivals. Over the past four years or so, it has been the title clash between the only two clubs who ever really competed for it. Each match has been enthralling, full of controversy, red cards, and goals. Claudio Ranieri's side this term have taken full points off all the teams above them bar Napoli thus far in the campionato and will look to.

Internazionale were made to battle for a place in the semi finals of the Coppa Italia; they faced Napoli in the cauldron that is the San Paulo. Both teams fielded their strongest available line ups, with Inter deciding to pair new signing Ranocchia with Cordoba at the heart of their defence. But despite fielding such a strong team, Napoli were the better team.

Una vez mas Cristiano Ronaldo es el jugador mejor pagado en el mundo solo así puede superar a Lionel Messi quien en la cancha y en los premios de este 2010 le ha ganado todo.
Según un estudio realizado por la revista belga «Sport Foot Magazine». La actual estrella madridista, con un salario de 12 millones de euros al año.