Pep Guardiola attended a charity golf tournament organized by his foundation in Girona. There, he spoke about the young Barça talent Lamine Yamal. He also discussed Barça and its goalkeeping situation.
"Lamine Yamal aims high"
Guardiola stated that Yamal is "in the best possible place to develop as a footballer. It's important that he continues his growth in Barça's environment."
Guardiola compared Yamal's situation to Lionel Messi's early days, predicting that Lamine will achieve great success if he avoids injuries and stays focused. "If he doesn't have injuries or setbacks, he's on track for a great career," the coach noted.
"If he gets paid a lot, it's because he deserves it"
The coach also referred to Yamal's recent contract renewal with FC Barcelona through 2031, highlighting that the player's salary increase is deserved.
"If they pay him, it's because he deserves it... For Messi, this affected him zero. Clubs aren't foolish, if they pay him, it's because he deserves it," Guardiola commented.
Guardiola expressed his surprise at the level Yamal has reached at such a young age, noting that being nominated for the Ballon d'Or at 17 years old (17 años) is a remarkable achievement. "I'm surprised that, at 17 years old (17 años), he's doing these things," he stated.
Lamine Yamal's comparison with Leo Messi
Additionally, the Catalan coach praised FC Barcelona for their "almost perfect season." He expressed his hope that "the club's good moment will last for many years."
Regarding the comparisons between Yamal and Messi, Guardiola urged people to let the young player follow his own path.
"Let's let Yamal grow... it's the best thing to do. Then we'll see if he'll be like the greatest," he commented.
Finally, Guardiola dismissed Manchester City's interest in signing goalkeepers such as Joan García or Marc-André ter Stegen. He assured that the club has reliable goalkeepers in their current squad.
He added that every summer the press links 500 signings to Manchester City and, in the end, none of them arrive.