Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has weighed into the ongoing Lamine Yamal vs Lionel Messi debate, as the latest Barcelona wonderkid starts his number ten adventure.
Yamal has grown to become one of the biggest names in the world of football. The Spain international recently turned 18 but has already record impressive performance in multiple games for club and country.
The young Barcelona winger has his own bragging right with European Championship and La Liga titles to his name. He is also considered to be a Ballon d’Or winner of the future.
With such potential to his name, Yamal has been compared to Messi as both stepped out of the famed La Masia academy system.
Lionel Messi won various trophies and individual awards with Barcelona. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
Though Yamal has been doing his best to avoid being dragged into that discussion, Guardiola can appreciate why, with the former Barca boss telling GQ of comparisons that do nobody any favours: “I think Lamine Yamal should be allowed to develop his career. And when he’s been playing for 15 years, we’ll decide if he’s better or worse.
“Let him develop his career. And the fact that he’s being compared to Messi is a big deal. Like if you compare a painter to Van Gogh, they’ll say, wow, he’s not bad, it’s a sign he’s good. And that comparison is a sign he’s good. But we have to let him develop his career. And we’ll see.”
Guardiola went on to say, with the current Manchester City manager never shying away from the fact that he considers the Argentine icon to be the greatest player of all-time: “Messi has been a big deal. 90 goals in one season, for 15 years, nonstop, without injury. That’s a big deal. Let him go. Let him go.”
Yamal has inherited the No.10 shirt at Barcelona and he’ll be eager to continue his good form for the Catalonia side.
