Xavi rejects comparisons between Lamine Yamal & Lionel Messi

Barcelona manager Xavi has urged fans not to compare teenage starlet Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi after the 16-year-old's latest heroics against Mallorca.

With Barcelona struggling on Friday evening, Yamal stepped up with a sensational strike that secured all three points for the Catalan giants.

"It doesn't benefit anyone to be compared to Messi," Xavi stressed post-match. "It's true that there are moments. He's a left-footer who cuts inside and puts it in your corner. It gives the impression that he has flashes of Messi, but it's best not to compare him.

"Comparisons do not benefit him. Anyone who is compared to Messi loses. He is the best footballer in history, so it's best not to compare to him."

Xavi was responding to unconventional praise from Mallorca manager Javier Aguirre, who spoke after the game about Yamal's impact.

"I saw Messi when he was with the Barca youth team," Aguirre remarked. "I saw him for five minutes and he moved like a rat, he didn’t stop scoring goals. This scoundrel also looks like a rat.

"He’s young, they work well with young people here and, yes, keep it up and he will bring many more joys to Barca."

Yamal himself admitted he was in dreamland to score such a great goal in front of an electric Barca crowd, reflecting: "I got on the end of the pass, I tried to leave my defender and I took the shot. This was a hard-fought game, very difficult, but I'm here to help the team.

"Scoring a goal in front of our fans in front is always a dream."

The win has closed the gap to rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga to five points, though Carlo Ancelotti's side have the opportunity to widen the gap once more when they host Celta Vigo on Sunday night.

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