Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany says it is exceptional that Barcelona have potentially found a replacement for Lionel Messi in Lamine Yamal so soon after the Argentine left the club.
Messi, now at Inter Miami, left Barça in 2021, and Yamal, a left-footed attacker who plays on the right, emerged from the youth team to debut with the first team at the age of 15 in 2023.
Since then, the 17-year-old has played more than 60 times for Barça, scoring five goals and providing six assists in 12 appearances this season, and helped Spain win the European Championship in the summer, earning comparisons with Messi in the path
“It is exceptional for Barça as a club [to have Yamal] so soon after the departure of a player like Messi,” Kompany said in a press conference prior to the two teams' Champions League meeting on Wednesday.
“For my generation, Messi was one of the key figures of our era. That shortly after this player left he potentially already has a player who can replace him is quite unique.
“All credit to [Barça’s academy] La Masia for always trusting these players and giving them the opportunity. But the point for us is not to stop. [Yamal]but trying to win a match against Barcelona, which means [stopping] All players, not one.
“The focus is on the team, not on one player, but he is an exceptional player.”
Yamal is one of two 17-year-olds who are regular starters for Barça. The other is central defender Pau Cubarsí, who also received an excellent review from Kompany, former Manchester City central defender.
“He is without a doubt one of the future defensive leaders in world football,” said the Belgian coach when asked his opinion on Cubarsi.
“I was lucky to start my career very young, at a similar age, but to play every game at this level, not only representing Barça, but against this level of competition in one of the five best leagues and in the Champions League. , it's very special, very rare.
“He is already a good player and if he can stay fit he will have a wonderful career.”
Kompany, who joined Bayern from Burnley this summer, has had a good start to his career in Bavaria. His team is undefeated and leaders of the Bundesliga, although they lost their last Champions League game at Aston Villa.
Wednesday's match at the Olympic Stadium is the latest test of his coaching credentials against a Barça side coached by former Bayern coach Hansi Flick, who won the treble during his time in charge of the German club.
“Hansi was not just a coach at Bayern, he was a very successful coach, a person who represented the club in a way that is still talked about today,” Kompany said.
“He means a lot to Bayern and I'm sure this game means a lot to him. But the duel is on the pitch. Hansi's ideas are very clear; I hope ours are too.”
Speaking previously to Kompany, Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich refused to rule out a move to Barça next summer when his contract expires, instead revealing the impact the Catalan club had on him when he was younger.
“It's always special to play against Barcelona,” said the German international. “Of course I have seen my name linked with Barça in the past, but it is not a special game because of that, simply because it is a great club.
“They have had successes in the past and, together with the Spanish team that won three trophies in a row, it is a club that has left a mark on me. Xavi [Hernández] “He was my idol when I was younger and Pep Guardiola and his Barça also had a great influence on me.”
When asked for a direct answer on whether he could sign for Barça next summer, he added: “In football you can never make the mistake of ruling things out. To answer you directly, I'm not thinking about that right now, but you can never rule out things in life or in football.
