Messi always showed signs of greatness from back in the day.

• Former Cameroon striker was at Barca from 2004 up until July 2009 when he sealed a move to Serie A club Inter Milan.

• 'We already knew back then that Messi would one day be what he's become,' says Cameroon star Eto'o.

Messi was destined for greatness, says former team-mate Samuel Eto'o. [Getty]

Ex-Barca striker Samuel Eto'o says the writing was on the wall that his former teammate Lionel Messi was going to become a great player when he rotated between the Los Cules B side and the senior team. The former Cameroon striker Eto'o, who played alongside the Argentine for five years at the Camp Nou, reckons it'll be very hard for any player to exceed Messi's legacy. "He would move between the B team and the first team, and he was very good," the 39-year-old said.

"We already knew back then that Messi would one day be what he's become. I'm very happy because he's achieved that through his own hard work. Eto'o added: "He hasn't changed at all. He's still the good person that I knew back then and that I still know. "He recently said 'thanks to Samuel', thanks to my advice – that I won't reveal here – that his career changed. "Back then he had to iron out a few things but he's always had that talent. I'm proud and happy to see the story that he's written and that hasn't ended yet. "It's going to be very difficult, impossible even, to surpass his legacy.

Eto'O won three LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues at Barca. [fcbarcelona.com]

"The most important thing for me is his character. Everyone appreciates him, adores him as a player. "But he's a wonderful guy and I'm proud to still be among his friends." During Eto'o five year stint at the Nou Camp, he won three LaLiga titles, two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey.

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