That would have been sensational fireworks: Big Sam was inches away from uniting Jay-Jay Okocha and Eto'o
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 01.03.23. | 20:48
Former Bolton coach recollects how he was close to signing the Cameroon and Barcelona star back when he was still at Mallorca
No dilemma about that - Samuel Eto'o and Jay-Jay Okocha were among the best African players for over a decade. Just imagine if we could have seen them together, playing for the same team. And it was so close to happening...
At least, according to former Bolton Wanderers coach Sam Allardyce, who claims Eto'o is one of those high-profile strikers he almost managed to ink during his long spell with Bolton. He even managed to take them to Europe with a thrilling team of cult hero players, including Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha and Fernando Hierro.
Jay-Jay Okocha and Sam Allardyce re-created their dance from their Bolton days at an all-star charity game today! 😂🕺 pic.twitter.com/WmPjHlkNTT
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 14, 2021
However, he wanted to make his side much stronger...
"There have been a few of those that we would've liked to sign but didn't quite manage to pull off.
"I think there was Samuel Eto'o at Bolton, he was playing for Mallorca."
Moreover, Allardyce claims the same happened with the World Cup winner Rivaldo. After a career at the very top of the game with Barcelona and AC Milan, Rivaldo was looking for new ventures, and Allardyce managed to secure a meeting.
"I was sat with Rivaldo in The Lowry in Manchester. People thought he was signing for Man United or Liverpool, but it was me sitting in The Lowry speaking to him," explained Allardyce.
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