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Football

'I will do better than Eto'o', says Ibrahimovic

28 Jul 2009


New Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has vowed to do even better than the departed Samuel Eto'o.

Ibrahimovic completed his move to the Catalan giants last night in a 66million euros 'swap' deal which sees Eto'o travel the other way.

The Cameroon striker scored 130 goals in Barca colours and helped the side to a string of titles, including three leagues, two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey success, in his five seasons at the club.

But Ibrahimovic, who signed a five-year deal with the treble winners and who will wear the number nine shirt vacated by Eto'o, says he wants to do even better.

"Eto'o is part of the history book of this club and he will always be a hero here," Ibrahimovic said.

"I have not come to replace Eto'o - I am somebody different, somebody new, but I will try to achieve as much as Eto'o did, or even more."

Barcelona revealed they had paid Inter 46million euros for Ibrahimovic with the extra 20million made up in their valuation of Eto'o.

That went most of the way to making up the 70million euros valuation Inter had placed on Ibrahimovic, with the Italians also getting winger Alexander Hleb on a year-long loan.

Following the press conference, Ibrahimovic was paraded in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Nou Camp.

See video of Ibrahimovic's Nou Camp parade

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