Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo has described comparisons between teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and club legend Lionel Messi as “crazy”, insisting the young winger must be allowed to forge his own identity at the club.

Yamal, a graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy like Messi, has been repeatedly likened to the Argentine due to his flair, confidence and early impact.

The 18-year-old underlined his growing reputation on Sunday by scoring a stunning acrobatic goal in a 3-0 win over Real Oviedo, a result that lifted Barcelona to the top of La Liga.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League clash against Copenhagen, Olmo urged caution.

“I think Lamine has his path, and he knows it. Comparing any player playing now with Messi is crazy,” Olmo said.

“Lamine is a ‘spectacle’, he is very young, what he’s giving us now is incredible, and in the future it will be a lot more.”

Yamal made his Barcelona debut at just 15 and has already rewritten the record books, including becoming the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history.

He was also part of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and played a key role in Barcelona’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

Olmo praised the winger’s maturity, stressing that the squad is focused on supporting his development rather than placing unnecessary pressure on him.

“(Yamal) is calm, he has his path and his idea. We will be there to help him, that’s our job,” he added.

“It’s a collective thing in the end. If Lamine plays well, wins, and scores goals, then the team will win.”

Barcelona host Copenhagen on Wednesday knowing that victory, coupled with favourable results elsewhere, could secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase and direct qualification for the last 16.

Coach Hansi Flick confirmed that Pedri Gonzalez will miss the match through injury, while Frenkie de Jong is suspended. However, Ferran Torres could return after recovering from injury.

“We have to play this match and respect Copenhagen, they have a fantastic team, and play at our top level,” Flick said.

“We have a big chance to finish in the (top) eight; we will do everything we can to reach it.”

Away from the pitch, Flick has also delivered a firm message about what it means to wear the Barcelona shirt.

According to BBC Sport, the German coach addressed concerns over young players leaving the club by insisting that representing Barcelona requires total dedication.

“If you want to play for Barca, then do it 100% with your whole heart,” Flick said. “This is what I want to say to everyone who is now with us, or in the future with us, this must be 100%.”

His comments follow the departure of 18-year-old midfielder Dro Fernandez, who has joined Paris Saint-Germain after the French champions paid €8.2m (£7.1m), a fee higher than his €6m (£5.2m) release clause, in a move aimed at maintaining good relations between the clubs.

Flick made it clear that only players fully aligned with Barcelona’s identity have a future at the club.

“These colours, you have to live for them. This is what I want to see. All the others I don’t want,” he said.

While acknowledging that the club may not always agree with decisions made by young players, Flick said they are ultimately responsible for their choices.

“Sometimes you do not agree with what they are doing, but they are 18, they are old enough to make the decisions. They have people around them,” he said.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted he was taken aback by Fernandez’s move to PSG.

“It came as a surprise because we had agreed on a different solution for when he turned 18,” Laporta said. “Surprisingly, his representative told us he couldn’t follow through on what we’d agreed to.”