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Lyon director of sport Bernard Lacombe believes that teenage striker Karim Benzema has everything necessary to become a great player.
The 17-year-old French youth international marked his first start for Lyon by scoring in the Champions’ League win over Rosenborg on Tuesday.
Club legend Lacombe, a prolific striker in his playing days, says he sees shades of himself in the youngster.
“When he was a kid he had great self-confidence,” Lacombe purred. “But he was always very respectful.
"He has an uncanny sense of knowing where the goal is and he makes intelligent runs."
The former Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux and France forward continued: “He is also keen to learn. He’ll be a great player if he keeps that mentality – and he will keep that mentality."
Benzema, meanwhile, was quick to praise his teammate John Carew for his excellent work to set up the teenager's first goal as a professional.
“I just knew that John was going to cut the ball back to the near post,” said Benzema, whose goals fired France to victory at the Under-18 European Championships.
“When I scored I thought about my family and I tried to jump onto John’s shoulders, but he is two metres tall so it proved difficult," he added.
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