Barcelona scout Andrea Mancini has made a bold prediction that Lamine Yamal will go on and become ‘stronger than everyone else including Lionel Messi.’
La Masia graduate Yamal has been unable to escape comparisons to Argentine superstar Messi since exploding into the senior scene at 15 years of age.
Records have collapsed around the teenage wonderkid as he has become a Golden Boy and Euro 2024 winner.
Even though Yamal is only 17, he has the potential to surpass eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi’s accomplishments. Barcelona’s academy system has uncovered another hidden gem, and everyone there is praying that turns out to be the case.
Mancini – the son of former Italy international Roberto – is among those charged with the task of finding more legends of the future.
He has told Gazzetta dello Sport of that process, with Yamal leading the way in 2025: “I am looking for new Lamine Yamals.
The club’s challenge is to get at least four or five children from La Masia into the first team every year. And the challenge is met every year.
Look at Yamal, it’s easy to say, but he’s been here for three years now. He will become stronger than everyone, even Messi.”
Alongside arguably the all-time great Messi, players like Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, and Gavi have come from Barcelona’s youth system, which is one of the most successful academies in the world of football.
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