Xavi hails ‘special’ Lamine Yamal and insists starlet has ‘innate talent’ comparable to Lionel Messi

Xavi has heaped praise on La Masia graduate Lamine Yamal after the young forward made his Barcelona debut on Saturday.

At just 15 years and 290 days, Yamal became the youngest player to represent the Catalan giants in LaLiga when he appeared as a late substitute as his side cruised past Real Betis in a 4-0 win.

Yamal was named on the bench as Barca defeated Atletico Madrid last weekend but had to wait until Saturday’s clash to make his senior debut for the club.

The Spanish youth international almost enjoyed a dream debut in senior football as he looked to score his first goal but his effort was well saved by Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva at his near post.

Speaking following the game, Xavi heaped praise on the youngster, commending him for his initiative and confidence.

After replacing Gavi the young forward came close to registering his first senior goal

‘I told him to try things and he did. At 15 years old, just imagine it… He is special and he could have even scored tonight, but [Silva] saved.

‘He played with confidence and he showed what he is about. He has no fear and bags of talent. Some of his passes in the final third were really good.’

As the latest talent to emerge from the club’s famed youth academy, comparisons between Yamal and former graduates such as Lionel Messi are inevitable, but Xavi added his ‘innate talent’ draws similarity to the legendary Argentine.

‘He’s a similar player because he has that innate talent in the final third which is difficult to find.

‘Lamine doesn’t seem like a 15-year-old, he’s very mature. He’s ready [to play] and he is training well. He can mark an era at this club as part of this team.’

Messi made his first-team debut for Barca at age 16 in November of 2003, nearly four years before Yamal was born.

Shortly after the Argentinian forward would become a regular for the club’s reserve side before winning his first league title with the club in the 2004-05 campaign.

Yamal is the youngest player ever to represent the Catalan giants in a La Liga fixture