Anzhi make Samuel Etoo the worlds highest paid footballer

Samuel Eto'o is on his way to Russia, where billionaire oligarch Suleyman Kerimov will make him the highest paid footballer in the world. All the 30-year-old has to do is pass a medical and play with Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos at Anzhi in the Russian province of Dagestan and he'll reportedly get 20 million per season over the next three years.

From the AP:

While financial terms were not disclosed, Eto'o is expected to be paid 20 million ($29 million) net per season, eclipsing the estimated 12 million ($17.4 million) that Cristiano Ronaldo earns at Real Madrid and the 10.5 million ($15.2 million) that Lionel Messi is paid by Barcelona.

After a week of negotiations in Milan, the transfer fee was reportedly set between 25 and 27 million ($36 and $39 million).

Not only does this deal put the former Inter and Barcelona striker well ahead of Cristiano and Messi, it also means he's getting paid more than the NBA's highest paid player, Kobe Bryant ($25.2 million). Of course, the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez still makes more with his $32 million this year.

This could be good news for Eto'o's Cameroon teammates, though. Last season, he spent $1.3 million buying each one of them a $42,000 watch. An amount of money that Samuel now refers ! to as "c hump change."

Photo: Getty