Samuel Eto’o has joined Sampdoria as a free agent after leaving Everton, it was confirmed on Saturday
But Mihajlovic said he did not want his players to be carried away by the expected festive atmosphere.
‘Party, what party?’ he told a news conference. ‘Eto’o is joining this team but he must not be a distraction.
‘He’s a great player, who has won everything and that attracts a lot of attention from the media, but this should not distract us.
‘The reason we are (joint) third is thanks to these guys, their commitment and their daily work.’
Eto’o, 33, who was a free agent, joined Everton from Chelsea in August after one year at Stamford Bridge. In the same month, he announced his international retirement after winning 118 caps and scoring a record 56 goals for Cameroon.