GENOA, Italy -- Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has played down a row between new signing Samuel Eto'o and coach Sinisa Mihajlovic after the striker refused to take part in a training session.
Mihajlovic had cancelled the squad's day off and imposed a double training session Monday following a 5-1 defeat at Torino.
After the morning session, Eto'o informed Mihajlovic he had a prior engagement and, following a heated exchange, left the training centre and failed to return for the afternoon session, according to reports.
Ferrero told Italian news agency ANSA: "It was only a difference of opinions and, truthfully, a small one too. We are calm. Samp is very stable."
Eto'o joined Sampdoria last week from Everton and made his debut in Turin, coming on for the final 20 minutes.