Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a strong caution to football fans and pundits, urging them to stop drawing comparisons between Spanish teen sensation Lamine Yamal and football legend Lionel Messi.
Speaking to the media (via BarcaUniversal), Guardiola, who famously coached Messi during his peak years at Barcelona, made it clear that Yamal should be given time to grow without undue pressure from lofty comparisons.
“When he [Yamal] plays for fifteen years, we can say whether he’s better than Messi or not.
The fact that he is compared to Messi is, in itself, a huge deal. It’s like comparing a painter to Van Gogh.”
Guardiola emphasized the weight of Messi’s legacy, reminding the public that comparisons to one of football’s greatest ever could hinder the young player’s development.
The Spanish coach, who managed Messi in 219 games at Barcelona—where the Argentine scored 211 goals under his guidance—believes the football world must let Yamal carve his own path and career without unnecessary pressure.
