Barcelona wonderkid compared to Messi & Maradona by Spain boss
Tom Weber
- Updated: 7 Oct 2023 11:06 BST
- 3 min read
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has compared 16-year-old Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona - no pressure, kid.
The Barcelona winger burst onto the scene last term, breaking a host of age-related records since. Aged 15 at the time, the teenager became the Blaugrana's youngest-ever debutant and title winner and he would go on to achieve similar with Spain, recently scoring his first goal against Georgia.
A left-footed dribbly winger, Yamal has naturally been compared to one Lionel Messi, the Barcelona legend now plying his trade at Inter Miami. While there have been several 'next Messis' at the Camp Nou in recent years, the 16-year-old looks the real deal, impressing whenever he has been on the pitch.
LAMINE YAMAL: Barcelona’s 'next Messi' has the world at his feet
Some have tried to downplay Yamal's similarity to a young Messi in a bid to shield him from the pressure, but not Spain boss De la Fuente. He's just come out and said it.
What did De la Fuente say?
Speaking at a press conference ahead of next week's Euro 2024 Qualifiers, the 62-year-old said of Yamal: "He has fantastic potential and talent. We have to take care of him, he is young."
"But," he continued, "do you remember when Messi or Maradona were 16 years old? We should not put limits on these good footballers. We must let them develop all their potential. That's what we're trying to do with this player here and at his club."
READ: Messi will sign with Barcelona in January on ONE condition
There is a risk of overplaying Yamal at his young age and Barcelona and Spain will be wary of that after seeing what happened to fellow wonderkid Pedri, who is now constantly injured.
De la Fuente said regarding Pedri's latest fitness-related absence: "I have spoken with Pedri...I have known [him] for such a long time that my relationship with [him] goes beyond being a coach. Pedri can play in any place, position and team in the world. We are lucky to have a player of that level."
