Ibrahimovic joins Barca in five-year deal

Eto'o completes Inter move

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed his transfer from Inter to Barcelona after signing a five-year contract, the European champions said yesterday.

The swap deal sends Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, valued at 20 million euros ($28.53 million), to Inter and is worth more than 66 million euros ($94.14 million).

Barca also said they were paying a separate 46 million euro ($65.61 million) fee and loaning Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb to Inter for the season.

The Italian side will have the chance to buy Hleb for 10 million euros ($14.26 million) plus variables next year.

Ibrahimovic passed a medical earlier in the day, though Barca said the Swede had fractured a bone in his left hand during Inter's recent friendly against Chelsea, and that treatment would be necessary.

He was presented to Barca fans at the Nou Camp with his number nine shirt, late yesterday.

Eto'o flew to Milan earlier in the day and passed a medical before signing a five-year contract, the Serie A champions said.

Eto'o told the Inter website (www.inter.it): "I made history at Barcelona, but that history is finished now. A new story begins at Inter, I'm starting from scratch, I want a new adventure and I hope everything goes well."

Ibrahimovic could make his first appearance as a Barca player against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday in the opening match of their tour to the United States.

He is a straight swap for Eto'o in the centre of Barca's three-pronged attack, between Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, and will be out to help them defend their European, and domestic league and cup titles.

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