Pep Guardiola surprised with Manchester City’s transfer stance on Lamine Yamal | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has extolled the virtues of Barcelona sensational Lamine Yamal after the young attacker’s extraordinary rise as one of Europe’s most feared forwards.

Yamal has established his status as one of the best players in the world after taking the world by storm in the colours of his boyhood club Barcelona, who were on course for a treble this season but were knocked out by Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

The 17-year-old is mightily mature for his age and has already drawn comparisons to the likes of Lionel Messi, having terrorised defences in Spain and the rest of Europe in his first few seasons in the Barcelona first-team.

Guardiola saw Messi up close in his prime at Barcelona and is highly credited with moulding the Argentine into arguably the greatest footballer of our generation, with the Catalan managing Barcelona for four seasons between 2008-12.

Speaking to SPORT this week, Guardiola was pressed on how Yamal fares against Messi after the teenager’s quick rise to world fame owing to his sensational displays for the Manchester City manager’s beloved Barcelona.

“Let’s let him (Yamal) have his career; in 10 or 15 years we’ll see if he can be compared to the greatest (Lionel Messi),” the 54-year-old said.

“We have to wait and see; he (Yamal) is in the best place in the world to grow. [Hansi] Flick has given Barcelona the nuances and we’ll see in 15 years. Everything points to a very good career given the amount of talent he has.”

Yamal recently penned a long-term contract at Barcelona, which will keep him at the club till the end of the 2030-31 campaign – after leading the Blaugrana to a domestic treble this season, which has seen him emerge as one of the favourites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

“If they’re paying him (Yamal) what you’re saying, it’s because he deserves it. He’s certainly surrounded by the right people,” Guardiola added.

“(Lionel) Messi wasn’t affected at all and he was a competitive beast. I’m surprised (Manchester) City isn’t interested (in Yamal).

“He (Yamal) is very good and that was evident on Inter’s day when they gave him the ball in extra time. As Hansi (Flick, Barcelona manager) says, he has to keep working, and I’m sure Barça will help him.

“What’s clear is that he’s in the best place. As a Barça fan, I’m very happy with his emergence.” On Yamal’s Ballon d’Or chances, Guardiola said: “Whoever wins it always deserves it.

“(Ousmane) Dembélé, who has won everything, could win it. The fact that he’s been nominated in 17 years (old) is already a reason for satisfaction.”