Former Barcelona striker, Samuel Eto’o has claimed he was the reason behind the team’s successes under ex-manager Pep Guardiola, not fellow forward, Lionel Messi as speculated.

Messi, who is currently in Manchester ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final against the Red Devils, is believed to be the star behind the Barca’s success streak at the Champions League about a decade ago.

Both Eto’o and Messi partnered in two Champions League finals, a 2-0 win in Rome 10 years ago and the 2011 win at Wembley.

These titles add to two more European honours and nine La Liga titles.

Messi was joined at Barcelona for five seasons by Eto’o, who scored 130 goals in nearly 200 appearances.

The Cameroonian striker now plays in the Middle East, with more than 350 goals in his career.

Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Eto’o said:

“I’ve said to Guardiola ‘you’ll apologise to me because it’ll be me that will make Barcelona win, not Lionel Messi’.

“It was a situation back then.

“Messi would come later but you can ask Xavi, Andres Iniesta and all the others.

“That was my era.

“It was me that made Barca win and Guardiola would ask me for forgiveness.”

The forward went on to criticise the Manchester City’s boss approach in his time with Barca.

Eto’o added:

“Pep Guardiola has lived his whole life in Barcelona.

“Messi would come later but you can ask Xavi, Andres Iniesta and all the others. That was my era.

“But in the years I spent there, he didn’t understand the squad.

“He didn’t live the life of our group.”

United fans will love these comments on Messi ahead of the game at Old Trafford.

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Mtcheww... Candle nor fit shine for where Florescent dey talk.

tru though, messi is now the GOAT. Eto was on fire in his prime

Messi fan are always very biased , the Impact of Eto during his time at Barca should not be sweep under the carpet ....this guy gave victory to barca in the champions league and that was Guadiola first . i can remember the "fantastic four "

Nonsense. I still remember the 6 - 2 thrashing of Madrid in 2008/2009. Messi and Henry scored braces, even Puyol and Pique scored but this dude was just misfiring

Yes you were an important player for Barca, but your best moments were with Ronaldinho.

Big Fat Lie.... Buh you will always b remembered as one of bacelona's legends

Messi is the REAL G.O.A.T!

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New Maxbounty Account Available...Check My Signature

I smell jealousy

All together made the team.check my sight for your Chinese rmb.

Jealousy don start, better find somewhere go siddan.

We have noticed you can you crawl back to your hole

Who dash am weed smoke

Mumu player with big yansh surprisingly he still looks the same from his time at barca......he dosent age or what?

lol

baba can you do what messi is doing, even when the greats of barca left?

Nope, it was uefa. They cheated chelsea in the semis for barca to go to the final.

He's somehow right....
He won the Champions league with Barca alongside Ronaldinho before Messi became a star in 2006.
Pep was only able to win the Champions league once - 10/11 after Eto left Barca.
Eto also won the trophy only once 09/10 after leaving Barca for Inter.

All i know is "ororo I'd still the greatest of all time.....



Barca people,kill your selves

African man

Then ronaldinho made them a loosing team abi?

Yes he is right. Messi was nobody when ETO reigned. I admit the story changed when Messi became hot but before Messi there was ETO.

m

You were black

We don hear Etim, oh sorry Eto'o.

Ronaldinho did, baba... not you.

@ OP Eto'o was not in Barcelona in 2011, he was in Inter Milan then. He only played 2 finals with Barca 2006 and 2009.

#prayformanunited.
Alex Ferguson right now

What is he saying...

Black man sha..

See, listen, Ronaldinho made you what you are, Mr. Man. He made you win Africa's best while he is winning the world's best.

Nonsense.