Former Everton Striker Samuel Eto’o dropped over comments

Samuel Eto’o was supposed to provide support to Everton when he arrived, but things never really worked out under Roberto Martinez. It appears that continues in the Turkish League where he has played with Antalyaspor since last year. This season has been a disaster for Antalyaspor and Eto’o as the team has collected just one point in 12 matches.

Toffees will remember him with some bitterness, especially his acrimonious exit. Having said that he wanted to win the UEFA Europa League with the Blues (a tournament he had never won), he left halfway through his first season in January for Sampdoria who he said he was more interested in playing for. His honeymoon in Genoa didn’t last though, and he was transferred to Antalyaspor in the summer of 2015.

Last season Eto’o totaled 20 goals in 31 matches for his squad and Antalyaspor finished in 9th place in the Turkish Super League. The team apparently tried to move on from Eto’o even after that solid season for the 35 year old striker. In doing so there was some unrest and Eto’o made a post on Instagram to air his frustration.

The post is in Turkish, but the important part is translated here:

Reminder – perhaps some people do not feel respect for me because I am black.

In response Antalyaspor chairman Ali Safak Ozturk has stated that Eto’o will be dropped from all future games until “the matter is resolved”. That seems a bit ambiguous, but could spell the end for Eto’o with Antalyaspor.

Eto’o seemed to handle his squad spot with Everton fairly well so it’s surprising to see him lash out, but for a team on such a bad run they might hope he can get back some of what he gave them last season or face relegation. He scored 4 goals in his 20 games for Everton.