Valverde admits Yamal is as unpredictable as Messi wilson88

wilson88 Barcelona teenage forward Lamine Yamal has been in fine form and even Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde has praised the player. wilson88

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted that 17-year-old Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is as unpredictable as former Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, Diario Sport reports on Sunday. ( wilson88 )

Yamal continued to harass the visitors’ Basque backline and gave the Blaugrana a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute with a long-range effort from outside the penalty area, and Valverde was quick to praise the 17-year-old forward’s abilities, drawing comparisons to the likes of Messi once again.

‘With Lamine Yamal, it’s unpredictable what he’s going to do, he’s a bit like Messi, they can do things you can’t stop,’ Valverde said of the 17-year-old forward.

Yamal said of his goal: ‘I saw Nico trying to get close to me. He wasn’t really focused on the defense. I looked for the gap and took the shot. But we’re very good friends.’