Could Nigeria’s next big talent Gift Orban be Barcelona’s new Samuel Eto’o?

Football is a sport that has always been about finding the next big talent.

In recent years, many clubs have turned to the African continent in search of talented players who could potentially make a big impact on the European stage.

One such player who has caught the attention of many of Europe’s biggest clubs is Gift Orban, the 20-year-old Nigerian striker who has been lighting up the Belgian league since his arrival in January 2023.

And according to Sport, Barcelona have joined the race to sign Orban following his short but spectacular stay in Europe.

The Spanish La Liga giants are in the market for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

And this excellent young striker who would remind many Barcelona fans of their Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o could be heading to Camp Nou in the summer.

This Soccernet.ng report will analyze whether Orban could be the next Samuel Eto’o for Barcelona.

Orban’s background

Gift Orban was born in Nigeria and started his football career with Bison FC before making a move to Stabaek in Norway in 2022.

It was in Norway that he first caught the attention of European scouts, with his impressive performances leading to a move to Gent in Belgium for a reported €3.3m in January 2023.

Orban’s performances in Belgium

Since his move to Gent, Orban has been in sensational form, scoring nine goals in just nine Belgian league games.

He has also been impressive in the Conference League, scoring five goals in five games, including a hat-trick in just three minutes and 25 seconds, the fastest ever in European competition.

Orban’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with around 40-50 scouts present to watch his recent game against West Ham, according The Athletic. 

Comparisons to Samuel Eto’o

Samuel Eto’o is widely regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time.

He made his name at Mallorca but became a legend at Barcelona, where he won three Champions League titles and two La Liga titles, scoring 130 goals in 199 appearances for the Catalan giants.

Orban is still a long way off matching Eto’o’s achievements, but there are similarities in their style of play.

Orban, like Eto’o, is a diminutive but predatory striker who has an eye for goal. His pace and movement off the ball make him a nightmare for defenders, and he has shown that he can score goals at the highest level.

Barcelona’s need for a striker

Barcelona has always been a club that prides itself on its attacking prowess. However, in recent years, they have struggled to find a striker who can consistently score goals.

Luis Suarez was the last player to fill that role, but since his departure to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona have been without a reliable goal scorer.

The arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich has halted the rot momentarily but the Polish striker is not getting any younger.

Orban could come in and be a reliable goalscorer for Barcelona for another ten to 15 years. And he could arrive for a fraction of the transfer fee many clubs are demanding for their celebrated number nines. 

Conclusion

Gift Orban is a young striker with immense potential. His performances in Norway and Belgium have shown that he has the ability to make an impact at the highest level.

While it is still early days in his career, there are similarities between Orban and Samuel Eto’o, which could make him the ideal striker for Barcelona.

With Barcelona in desperate need of a goal scorer, Orban could be the solution to their problems. However, whether he can make the step up to a club like Barcelona remains to be seen, and only time will tell if he can emulate the success of Samuel Eto’o at the Camp Nou.