Former Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea star Samuel Eto’o, who once served as a striker, is currently facing legal action initiated by his own daughter. Eto’o, presently at the helm of the Cameroon FA, is entangled in a legal dispute in Italy. His 21-year-old daughter, Annie, alleges that he has failed to meet his financial and familial responsibilities.
Born in Padova, Italy, in 2002 as a result of Eto’o’s relationship with Sardinian woman Anna Maria Barranca, Annie has been officially recognized as Eto’os daughter. Despite this acknowledgment, the four-time African Footballer of the Year has never been actively involved in her life. As per reports from the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, the university student has formally lodged a complaint with the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office, represented by Venice lawyer Daniele Vianello.
The filed complaint traces back to October 13 and follows Annie’s “last desperate attempt” to establish contact with her father, which proved unsuccessful. Annie is currently pursuing full-time studies in Milan, but she is not financially independent and relies on her mother, who faces financial challenges.
In 2015, Eto’o was mandated to pay €10,000 in child maintenance to Barranca. However, it is alleged that he did not adhere to this commitment, leading to the ongoing legal dispute. This is not the first instance of Eto’o facing such accusations; his other daughter, Erika Do Rosario Nieves, also accused him of failing to fulfill child maintenance payments in Spain.
Officially recognized as his daughter in February 2022, Erika’s case resulted in a ruling that required the 42-year-old football star to pay €1,400 (£1,167) per month to Erika. This payment plan was retroactively applied to 2018, marking the commencement of the legal proceedings.
