Guardiola insists no player can compare to Lionel Messi and has apologised to the 17-year-old despite the former Barcelona star thriving at the tender age of 17.

Although Guardiola has never coached Yamal, he and Messi spent their golden years together at Barcelona. During their cooperation, the team won the La Liga championship three times and the Champions League twice, writing a glorious chapter for Barcelona and even the world of football. Now, Yamal is expected to take over the No. 10 jersey worn by the legend and become the new generation core of Camp Nou.

In an interview with DAZN, Guardiola said: "Everyone is surprised, and they are right: you really have a mature game mind when you are 24 or 25 years old. But sometimes a player with such outstanding talent is expected to shoot three-pointers like Curry every time he touches the ball. But this is not the case.

"Yammar will know: now control the ball, then rest for three minutes; then make a small breakthrough, then pass the ball; finally appear at the critical moment to decide the outcome. He has already understood the rhythm of the game, and this is what is surprising."

Despite his praise for the rising star, Guardiola still drew a clear line: "To be honest, we are really lucky at Barcelona to have discovered another kid like this. But I wouldn't say he's like Messi. Sorry, I'm really sorry. But in my opinion, there will never be another player like Messi in the world - the Argentine is unique, there is no doubt about that."

Yamal will play for the Spanish national team in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday against Portugal.