The talk surrounding Lamine Yamal doesn’t seem to have an end. Ever since guiding Spain to their historic fourth UEFA Euro title with his remarkable performance, the teenage superstar is on everyone’s tongue. For Julian Gressel, however, it may be a sign for Yamal to brace himself as Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami teammate believes the Spaniard’s ‘young puppy‘ status has vanished now.

“It’s really hard for me to understand. 17! that is so young, that’s like half my age,” said Gressel, who was the guest of the latest ‘Player/Manager’ podcast, episode 17, hosted by Zealand Shannon. The 30-year-old was lost for words to contextualize the Euros’ youngest player’s performance in the recent tournament. But for context, in 2007, when Lamine was born, Julian, then 13, was being told that he wouldn’t make it as a professional player.

However, such comparisons are exactly what Gressel is trying to warn the Catalan star about. “We also have to remember that he’s only 17. There’s going to be comparisons to all-time greats. We talk about Leo Messi all the time here. The type of pressure now that he has, gone back to Barcelona, having to perform now. Week in or week out, there’s not gonna be slack for him whatsoever. That ‘young puppy’ status has almost gone now.”

Gressel hopes that new Barca boss Hansi Flick will be able to manage the youngster. The Herons midfielder also hoped that Yamal stays injury-free which will allow him to reach more heights. “That [Yamal’s talent] is something so, so special in their hands that if they manage it in the right way, hopefully, he can take it to that level of what he’s compared to,” concluded the German.

While Gressel is urging to tone down the pressure surrounding Yamal, others are still busy creating more hype about the teenager.

Can Lamine Yamal play in MLS with a contract similar to Messi? 

NFL legend and sports analyst Pat McAfee believes that Lamine Yamal should be playing in the Major League Soccer. Speaking alongside his usual crew in the latest episode of the McAfee Show on ESPN FC, he said, “That 17-year-old kid needs to be in the MLS tomorrow. Somebody needs to give him the entire team. Let him own a team.” The American commentator believes that the forward can potentially transform the landscape of soccer in the United States.

McAfee further couldn’t stop praising Yamal for his job done for the best team in the Euros, backing him as the ‘Most talented soccer player on earth.’ Yamal has made a Messi-like impact on Americans since the Argentine joined MLS. The 17-year-old is often compared to his club’s icon, prompting McAfee to suggest a $50m annual contract, similar to La Pulga’s with the Herons, might lure him.

However, suggesting that Yamal play in the MLS seems farfetched for now and should be avoided, just like Julian Gressel advised not to put much pressure on the teenage sensation.