Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is being billed as another Lionel Messi, and fellow academy graduate Isaac Cuenca says those “comparisons are fair”.
Yamal made his senior breakthrough with Barca at 15 years of age, allowing him to rewrite the record books.
History has continued to be made from that point with club and country – as a European Championship crown was claimed with Spain the day after his 17th birthday.
Obvious comparisons with Blaugrana legend and one-time La Masia starlet Messi have been made, with Yamal considered by many to be treading a similar career path.
The youngster has been quick to distance himself from that discussion, but those that have seen him play are happy to talk up the hottest of prospects.
Interesting Anecdote
Cuenca, who is now technical director of the Aitana Bonmati campus at Barca, has told Mundo Deportivo of how he was swept up in the Yamal hype:
“Well, I have a very interesting anecdote.
“If you want, I can share it. Since we’re here.
“I was at home, and my nephew kept talking about Lamine Yamal because he heard about him at school, and my daughter too.
“I hadn’t seen him play yet, and it happens a lot that people say many young players are coming up, and they make all these comparisons between one and another, but I didn’t pay much attention.
“We’ve all been compared to stars, and in the end, some make it further than others.
“In Lamine Yamal’s case, I spoke with Xavi to go see a Barca training session.
“Xavi opened the doors for me, and I went to watch him.
“I said: ‘Okay, this is something else’. The comparisons are fair.
“He’s a very good player with a lot of potential.”
“At just sixteen years old, what he’s doing, what he did in the Euros with Spain, there’s not much more to say.
“Now what’s left for him is to enjoy, keep progressing, and, above all, for Barça to take care of him, keep him, and we’ll see what happens in a few years.”
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However, Yamal, who has already been among the goals for Barca this season, is up to 54 appearances for the Liga giants and 14 for Spain.
Also, he is expected to follow in Messi’s illustrious footsteps by competing for future Golden Boy and Ballon d’Or honours.
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