Legendary former Inter defender Marco Materazzi has given his personal thanks to Samuel Eto’o for the role that the Cameroonian played in winning the Champions League.
Speaking during Milano Football Well, via FCInter1908, the ex-defender gave his thoughts on his old teammate.
Inter had their most memorable season in the modern era in the 2009-10 campaign. That year saw the Nerazzurri win the European Treble.
Crowning that achievement was a triumph in Europe’s biggest competition, the Champions League.
It was an Inter squad comprised of many of the club’s greatest players of the modern era, or ever.
Among these was Materazzi. By then, the iconic defender was no longer a regular first-choice starter, with Lucio and Walter Samuel ahead of him.
However, the 2006 World Cup winner still more than had his role to play.
Marco Materazzi Thanks Former Teammate Samuel Eto’o
Meanwhile, striker Eto’o was also a vital player to the Nerazzurri’s efforts that season.
The Cameroonian legend joined Inter from Barcelona that summer. The deal that took Eto’o to Inter saw striker Zalatan Ibrahimovic go the other way.
Eto’o proved to be something of an x-factor for Inter that season.
Whilst the squad had certainly already been strong, the former Blaugranas striker gave the team balance and workrate in attack.
From the perspective of Materazzi, the former defender knows who he has to thank for victory in Europe’s biggest club competition.
Eto’o’s arrival always seemed to herald something in Milan.
Even though the Cameroonian did not quite have the star-power that ex-Nerazzurri and AC Milan striker Ibrahimovic did, he proved to be exactly what the team was in need of to take the next step and reach the highest level in Europe.
“It’s a pleasure to be here with Samu,” Materazzi said of being reunited with his old comrade.
“I can never thank him enough for us winning the Champions League.”
“I never would have won it with someone else,” the former defender said with a wink, “he knows who.”
