Former Chelsea and Barcelona star, Samuel Eto’o has been declared as the biological father of a 22-year-old lady in Madrid.
The 40-year-old Cameroon legend did not attend court proceedings in the Spanish capital and has never acknowledged that he was the father of Erika Do Rosario Nieves.
However, court No 83 in Madrid reached the verdict on Thursday to conclude a legal process that was started by the girl’s mother back in 2018.
Erika’s mum, Adileusa, was said to have met Eto’o at a nightclub in Madrid in 1997. That was when the ex-striker was playing for Leganes, a club based near the city.
Eto’o spent the 1997-98 campaign on loan at the club from Real Madrid and scored four goals in 30 appearances before returning to the Bernabeu.
A relationship between the star and Adileusa developed, the lawsuit stated according to Spanish press agency EFE, and she then discovered in February 1998 that she was pregnant.
The lawsuit added that the footy ace ‘told her that he would act responsibly with respect to the common child, although he preferred that she did not give birth to the child.’
The case added that ‘during the pregnancy she tried to communicate with the future father (Eto’o), but he did not answer her phone calls or reply to her emails.’
Eto’o was playing for La Liga club, Espanyol by then after heading out on loan again from Madrid.
Adileusa began the lawsuit in 2018 as she provided biological evidence that supported her testimony that Erika was the daughter of Eto’o.
He is said not to have engaged with the court at any point during proceedings and was not present during the decision.
The court ruled that Eto’o must now pay allowance, totalling €1,400 (£1,167) per month, to the young woman which is dated back to the moment that the lawsuit was filed.
Eto’o is regarded as one of the best African footballers ever after shooting to superstardom at Barcelona between 2004 and 2009.
He won two Champions League crowns with them before adding another to his collection with Inter Milan.
Eto’o went on to have spells with Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea and Everton in England before stints with Sampdoria, Antalyaspor and Konyaspor and then ending his career with Qatar SC in 2019.
He also won two Africa Cup of Nations titles and an Olympic gold medal with his country.
