Real Madrid and Barcelona’s former striker Samuel Eto’o says it is thanks to Fabio Capello that his family can afford food
Eto'o thanks the former England manager for giving him a chance at Real Madrid and applauds Fifa's new 48-team World Cup plan
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SAMUEL ETO'O this week issued an emotional reminder of the power of football to transform lives.
Speaking at the 11th International Football Conference in Dubai he said if it wasn't for Fabio Capello, his family wouldn't be able to eat.
Capello brought Eto'o from the Kadji Sports Academy in Cameroon to Real Madrid in 1997.
The striker said at the conference: "I would like to thank many people. Without them this beautiful adventure would never have happened.
"First of all, Mr Capello. Thankyou, thankyou. I have never had the opportunity to do it [give thanks] before and I want to do it in front of all these people.
"It's thanks to you that my family can eat and I can dedicate myself to the thing I most enjoy in the world. Playing football.
"Thanks for giving me the opportunity and thanks for giving my family the opportunity."
Ironically it was Real Madrid's fierce rivals Barcelona who would benefit from Capello's signing of Eto'o.
The Cameroon star only made three appearances at the Bernabeu before moving to Real Mallorca in 2000, where his career really took off.
He moved to the Nou Camp in 2004 and scored 108 goals in 145 games, leading the Catalans to two Champions League triumphs.
In 2009, he moved to Inter Milan as a makeweight in Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move to Barcelona and helped Jose Mourinho bring the Champions League to the San Siro.
The Barcelona legend also had message for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who has introduced a controversial proposal to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 32.
Eto'o said he passionately supported the expansion of the World Cup as an African and someone from a poor background, adding that it will give more players than ever the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a global audience.
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He told the crowd: "Mr Gianni Infantino, and your vision for a World Cup of 48 teams.
"Do it for us poor people! Those who haven't had the opportunity, at times, to play at a World Cup.
"Do it, we support you!
"I, personally, support you and all of Africa will support you in giving us the opportunity to play at the World Cup."
Infantino has claimed that he has a huge majority of nations in favour of his plan to expand the tournament.
He said earlier this month: “The big, big, big majority is in favour of the 48 teams with the 16 groups of three."