Barcelona sporting director Deco has said Lamine Yamal has everything needed to become "a reference player" at the club.

Cesc Fabregas says he understands why Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal is so often compared to all-time great and fellow former Barca player Lionel Messi. However Fabregas, who also came through the ranks at Camp Nou before also featuring for Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League, has urged the prospect to "follow his own path".

Lamine Yamal, the young star of FC Barcelona, has reached an impressive level in the transfer market, positioning himself as one of the most valuable footballers in the world. At just 17 years old, his meteoric rise has driven his value to 163 million dollars,

Barcelona director, Deco has explained why he is never going to compare the legendary Lionel Messi with the rising Barcelona star, Lamine Yamal. Lionel Messi

Barcelona sporting director Deco believes Lionel Messi had a better environment to flourish at Camp Nou compared to Lamine Yamal.

Lamine Yamal has inherited Lionel Messi's number 19 shirt at Barcelona, and could soon continue in the legend's footsteps with adidas too.

Lionel Messi remains an iconic figure both on and off the field, and a testament to this is that even his sponsor, Adidas, celebrates "Messi Day."

Messi spent the first 18 years of his professional career on FC Barcelona before leaving in 2021 due to the club’s financial crisis

Barcelona sporting director, Deco, has said that Lionel Messi had a better environment to flourish at Camp Nou compared to fast-rising youngster, Lamine Yamal. Yamal’s last season’s explosion at Camp Nou has ignited comparisons with Messi.

Former Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas has explained why Lamine Yamal comparisons with Argentine GOAT Lionel Messi are “completely normal”.