It Looks Like it's 10-Past Bling

Apostrophe lover Samuel Eto’o wants to say “Thank you” to his teammates for helping him earn Cameroon a World Cup birth.

And when you’re Samuel Eto’o, you don’t do it by sending a card.

So if you’re lucky enough to be a Cameroonian teammate of the Inter Milan striker, you’re getting paid… in the form of a £29,000 watch.

Eto’o actually used the watch as an incentive, promising before the match that he would gift each of his teammates the same timepiece he gave to Usain Bolt if they secured the spot in South Africa. Cameroon beat Morocco 2-0 over the weekend, so Eto’o will make good on his promise.

The best part, the diamond-crusted gold watch was designed by Eto’o himself. Dude’s got his own collection. And he probably should have spent more money on better design, particularly the signature logo that is basically his name crammed into the circumference of a rounded ‘E’. But I guess if you’re an egomaniacal enough athlete to have your own collection of jewelry, then you’re probably going to have your name all over it.

This isn’t the first time Eto’o has compensated his teammates. He gave them each a straight cash payment of £1,200 when they beat the Ivory Coast in 2005. On the one hand, it’s a considerable increase in payment. On the other hand, it’s a gaudy watch, and, because it’s from the guy’s collection, he’s getting it at cost.