Pep Guardiola commented on Lamine Yamal: 'He can't be compared to the greatest yet.'

Before the new FIFA Club World Cup, Pep Guardiola was asked about the emerging figure of Lamine Yamal, but chose not to draw parallels with Lionel Messi. Although he made clear his admiration for the Barcelona youngster, he preferred to be cautious and emphasized that he still has a long way to go if he wants to get close to the Argentine, whom he described as "the greatest".

"It's important for Lamine Yamal to make his own way. He's in the best possible place (Barcelona). We'll see later if he can be compared to the greatest", Guardiola said during a press conference in Catalonia.

The Manchester City coach elaborated on the present of the blaugrana forward: "It's undeniable that he's a very good player. He's in the best place to grow, with teammates he knows. If he doesn't suffer injuries or setbacks, he's on track to have a great career", he added.

Regarding the possibility that Yamal could soon be awarded the Ballon d'Or, Guardiola acknowledged his potential: "He deserves it", he said, expressing confidence in the young striker's future.

Yamal's contract renewal with Barcelona until 2031, along with the possibility that he could become one of the highest-paid players on the squad, was also a topic of discussion. Guardiola replied bluntly, comparing him once again to Messi: "If they're paying him, it's because he deserves it. This affected Messi zero. Clubs aren't foolish; if they're paying him, it's because he deserves it. I'm happy for him and for Barça".

Finally, Pep took the opportunity to congratulate his former club for winning LaLiga and PSG for the Champions League, after thrashing Inter in the final. "All of Luis's friends (Enrique) are very happy because he deserves it. PSG had an extraordinary year. When we played and lost against them (4-2), I already sensed their power. They also eliminated Liverpool and Arsenal, who are very tough opponents", he concluded.