Samuel Eto’o’s time with Anzhi Makhachkala is coming to an end, signaling a significant change in the club’s approach and financial strategy. The wealthy owner of Anzhi, Suleyman Kerimov, has decided to make substantial budget cuts, reducing the annual budget from 150 million to 50 million euros.
This financial restructuring has led to a shift in the club’s priorities, with an emphasis on developing young talents from the academy rather than making expensive signings. As a result, high-profile players like Samuel Eto’o, who is currently the highest-paid player on the planet with a net salary of 20 million euros per year, are now set to depart.
Anzhi’s recent sporting results, including a challenging start to the season with only 2 points in 4 games and a lackluster performance in the previous season, have likely influenced this decision. Despite significant investments in players like Eto’o, Lassana Diarra, Mbark Boussoufa, and William, the club fell short of expectations, failing to secure a place in the Champions League and being eliminated in the 16th round of the Europa League.
With the firing of coach René Meulesteen and the decision to focus on developing young talents, Anzhi is undergoing a major transformation. Players like Eto’o, Diarra, Willian, Boussoufa, and others are now expected to seek new opportunities, as the club moves away from the strategy of signing high-profile stars. For Eto’o, whose contract ends in June 2014, it appears that this season might be his last in Russia, bringing an end to the dream that began with his arrival in 2011.
