Jean-Michel Aulas gains Bafétimbi Gomis backing after Karim Benzema in Lyon mayoral bid | OneFootball

Bafétimbi Gomis has publicly backed Jean-Michel Aulas in the race for Lyon’s mayoralty.

According to Le Progres, the former Olympique Lyonnais striker endorsed Aulas in a video posted on Tuesday evening on the candidate’s Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. He said he had worked under Aulas for five years and that his love and dedication to Lyon were beyond doubt.

Gomis argued Aulas would make a very great mayor and could restore pride and security to a city he believes badly needs it. He played for Lyon from 2009 to 2014 and is now retired.

Aulas responded by praising Gomis and thanking him for words he said went straight to his heart and stirred Lyon supporters.

The 76-year-old former OL president declared his candidacy in September, running without a party label but with backing from the right and centre as he seeks to unseat ecologist incumbent Grégory Doucet.

Buoyed by his 36 years at OL, during which he took the club from the second tier to a run of French titles from 2002 to 2008, he has led early polls even before setting out his programme.

In December, 2022 Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema, born in Bron and developed at Lyon before his 2009 move to Real Madrid, also backed Aulas. He told L’Equipe that Aulas should be Lyon’s mayor, then said on LCI in January that he was wholeheartedly behind him.

Source: Le Progres