Jean-Michel Aulas, the president of Olympique Lyonnais, has often used high-profile comparisons to praise his players, and this time, he made headlines by comparing Clinton N’Jié to Samuel Eto’o. Aulas, always enthusiastic about his players’ potential, sees N’Jié as a player with a lot of promise, perhaps even one who could reach the level of an iconic striker like Eto’o, who is widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest.
However, Hubert Fournier, Lyon’s coach at the time, was more cautious in his assessment. At a press conference, Fournier downplayed Aulas’ lofty comparison, acknowledging that N’Jié, while talented, still had a long way to go to reach the heights of Eto’o. He emphasized that N’Jié’s potential was undeniable, but he needed to develop consistency and perform at the highest level before comparisons with established legends could be seriously entertained.
Fournier’s more measured response highlights the balancing act between Aulas’ optimism and the realities of player development, especially for a young talent like N’Jié, who still had plenty of room to grow.
