‘Scary’ – Napoli star speaks out on brilliance of Barcelona youngsters after CL elimination | OneFootball

Napoli star Juan Jesus has revealed his admiration for up-and-coming Barcelona pair Lamine Yamal, and Pau Cubarsí.

As much, of course, comes fresh off both playing central roles in Barca sending Napoli packing from the Champions League.

Welcoming the reigning Serie A champions to Catalunya for the 2nd leg of the Last-16 tie between the clubs on Tuesday night, Blaugrana boss Xavi entrusted both Lamine, and Cubarsí, with starting roles.

And, over the course of the 90 minutes, the two starlets went on to repay the faith of their head coach, and then some.

Surging up and down the right wing, Lamine, for the most part, looked Barcelona’s chief attacking threat at Montjuïc.

And arguably even more impressive at the other end was stopper Cubarsí, whose excellence both in and out of possession up against the likes of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was enough to earn the Spaniard Man of the Match honours.

Still just 16 and 17 years of age respectively, fans across Europe who were not yet fully familiar with the talents of Barca’s latest breakthrough pair, in turn, stood up to take full notice this week.

And joining such viewers, as alluded to above, was one of those left to watch on in awe on the Napoli side of things on Tuesday night.

Speaking in an interview with TNT Sports Brasil, Juan Jesus first had the following to say regarding the talents of Lamine:

“I don’t want to compare him to Neymar yet… but he has the quality to do great things.”

And in further quotes gathered by DAZN Italia, the Napoli stopper went on highlight Cubarsí’s talents at such a young age as nothing short of ‘scary’:

“Cubarsí was born in 2007, he’s one year younger than my daughter and that’s scary. It’s amazing to see such young players performing at this level.”

Conor Laird | GSFN