Roberto Carlos warns Chelsea against Samuel Eto'o

Roberto Carlos during his Real Madrid days

According to former Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos, Samuel Eto’o could have a ‘damaging’ influence in the Chelsea dressing room due to his previous history at Anzhi Makhachkala.

The former Anzhi Makhachkala director divulged that the player interfered with his work so much that he considered quitting.

He said: ‘I’ve known Eto’o since I was 16, and from that time on he’s always been a good guy who I’ve liked a lot.

‘He’s a good person, but there a part of him that thinks ‘I, and not the group’, which is really damaging.

‘When a footballer, instead of playing, is interested in signing players who are his friends… it’s confusing and strange.

‘He did everything at Anzhi, except play football.’

Carlos added: ‘I came to the club and in my first year we finished in the top five.

‘We managed to professionalise the team. In the second year, we signed Eto’o and I had control of the team – I organised the players and worked with the coach. I put Anzhi among the best.

‘With the arrival of Eto’o, with the values of everyone involved, I had some little problems in the dressing room and had to talk to the Russian players and explain why Eto’o was there.

‘However, a moment arrived when Eto’o thought to interfere with my work, to control the club, taking my position and that of Guus [Hiddink, the coach].

‘We talked about one thing, and then he went to the players and talked about another. That stressed me out and I warned that I would pack my bags and go.

‘No one believed me because I had a four-year contract. But then I called Anzhi and came to an agreement.’

Eto’o has scored 36 goals in 71 appearances for the Russian club and could possibly debut for Chelsea against Everton this weekend.