After Cameroon secured their passage to next year’s World Cup last weekend with a 2-0 win over Morocco, Eto’o made good on a promise to give every member of the squad a £30k watch.
Getting a Cameroon call-up is an extra-special affair, considering the striker has a history of giving things away to his fellow countrymen. Four years ago Samuel shelled out £60k after promising the squad two grand each should they beat Ivory Coast in n upcoming match.
His charity doesn’t stop at fellow pros though. According to Football Italia:
Eto’o is not shy of making a bet, as long as the proceeds go to charity. Three years ago, he did a deal with Ford whereby they would send an ambulance to Cameroon for every goal he scored above a certain quota.
He is now in the process of recycling Europe’s unwanted shoes, installing special bins in Spanish department store El Corte Ingles where people can donate them to charity.
Not his own one to ‘recover’ from his many ‘injuries’, it’s for charity
The Spoiler can’t quite put our finger on it, but Didier Drogba has been strangely likable this season (discount last Sunday’s impromptu Harlem Shake if you want.) Perhaps it’s the undeniably prodigious goalscoring, or the fact there was a massive Drogba-deficit last season. Anyhoo, he’s been a thoroughly entertaining bloke recently, and, dare we say, perhaps now even a nice one.
According to the Daily Mail, Didier has pledged the £3m fee he’s just received for becoming the new face of Pepsi to a donation fund for building hospitals in his homeland, the Ivory Coast. He’s even managed to convince ‘hard-up’ Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to top up the pot with a few million petrodollars:
Sources close to the remarkable deal also claim there will be a generous donation by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in a personal show of support for Drogba.
Sportsmail understands Abramovich may even have offered to match the donation pound for pound.
Leonid Slutsky’s (no laughing at the back) side took a surprise lead through Alan’s 25th minute strike, but were soon pegged back by a typically poached goal from Michael Owen. After going 3-1 down to a pair of all-too-easy goals from Milos Krasic and Vasili Berezutski, United staged a late rally - 84th minute late - with a Paul Scholes header and Antonio Valencia’s deflected equaliser.
Atletico Madrid 2/ Chelsea 2
Chelsea started the match ready to hammer an Atletico Madrid side, laughably shambolic on and off the pitch, who had nothing to play for. However, Atleti put in an admirable first-half performance, before Kun Aguero came on and smashed a 66th minute volley which stuck a massive middle finger up at any idea of a Blues rout.
Didier Drogba grabbed a late brace, but Aguero popped up again in injury time (with a free-kick that’ll add a few €m to his price tag in January) to grab a point.
Like a hospital patient on suicide watch, Chelsea won’t be allowed near the window any time soon. Yet despite thumping Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, Chelsea have confirmed that they will now appeal to the confusingly-ordered CAS (Court of Sport Arbitration,) over their year-long transfer ban. In so doing, the resultant delay ensures their ability to do business this January, but does risk an extension of the ban if the Court deem their appeal to lack foundation.
This risk demonstrates that Carlo Ancelotti has concluded that his team still need enforcing in January. Knowing his wallet may soon start to gather cobwebs, and needing to keep up with the Abu Dhabi crew up North, Roman Abramovic will be under big pressure to do some pretty heavy spending.
So who is Ancelotti eyeing? Goalkeepers will certainly be an area of interest, as might centre-half, due to the continuing problems of Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho respectively. The African Cup of Nations will certainly be in mind too, and hence backup for Drogba will be handy. Of course, the imminent transfer ban, that consequentially could even last beyond the original two windows should this appeal fail, will also be a factor. With a year of transfer famine potentially on its way, expect players to be hoarded like tamiflu in a house full of hypocondriacs, and possibly loaned back for six months, or even a year. Arrivals could hence be staggered like the conventional transfer window system, even were Chelsea to play no part in it.
Chelsea fans - who would you like to see arrive in January? Let us know below…
Since earning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2006/07, Didier Drogba has failed to ripple the net on as many occasions as Nicolas Anelka. One might put this down to the fact that he didn’t play as many games as his stroppy strike partner, but the Ivorian will have you believe its because he is so damn unselfish:
“I often sacrifice myself for the good of the team. I don’t look at my scoring statistics. Have you ever seen any other great strikers do as much defending as I do?”
Does Drogba defend quite as much as he is suggesting? Let us know your thoughts, Chelsea fans…
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Xabi Alonso to Chelsea or Manchester City
The Spaniard’s oft-discussed transfer to Real Madrid appears to have stalled, and the Daily Mail believe at least two Premiership clubs are inquiring after his services. Manchester City and Chelsea have both reportedly been in touch with the midfielder’s agents, having first made contact a month ago.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Madrid are unlikely to match Liverpool’s £35m asking price, but neither Chelsea nor Manchester City would have such a problem. However, with Liverpool having a very decent shout at the title this year, we can’t really see Alonso moving to a Premiership rival.
Alberto Aquilani to Liverpool
In the event of Alonso’s departure, Senor Benitez may snap up Roma’s hot-headed midfielder. The cash-strapped Italians would reportedly demand no less than £18m for the 25-year-old.
My my, didn’t the London clubs do well last night?
Chelsea 2/ Inter Milan 0
In front of a huge crowd at Pasadena’s historic Rose Bowl stadium, Chelsea entertained their American fans with a win over the Serie A champions. Goals came from two of Jose Mourinho’s former lovers, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.
SC Columbia 1/ Arsenal 7
Despite a very embarrassing slip up for the opener, the Gunners absolutely spanked minnows SC Columbia in Vienna last night. Braces from Nicklas Bendtner, RVP and Aaron Ramsey were topped off with an effort from William Gallas.
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