Former Barcelona striker Javier Saviola is backing Lamine Yamal for big things in his career.

Saviola coached Yamal when working inside the La Masia academy last year.

He recalled to Sport: "I saw him because of how he handled pressure situations, because of a lot of things that at 15 years old you already realise the mental strength he had and how he put the team on his shoulders.

"Plus he's growing. He has improved a lot in the last part of the game. In the definition, which I think is very important for the game he has. He is very bold, very skilful, but we have already seen a great improvement in front of goal. We are talking about those differential players who don't come out often. There are very good players but the different ones are the ones that come out the least.

"It is no coincidence that he is in the first team and Xavi gives him many minutes at 16 years old. That speaks for itself: he has a huge future, he is also an intelligent person because he allows himself to be advised.

"The player, if he is good and allows himself to be advised, is even better in the long run."

Saviola also said: "I'm not surprised because we already knew that he was going to face this situation very well. That when he got to the first team he would behave as he is doing: with a lot of maturity, integrating very quickly and working in training.

"Lamine trains very, very well knowing what he lacks and what he has. And we were aware that when he reached the first team, it was not going to take a toll on him. He carries in his DNA a way of playing that makes him different."