Barcelona Has High Hopes For Youngster To Be Messi's Successor, Rivaldo Says

Barcelona all-time great Rivaldo believes that his former club expects teenage sensation Ansu Fati to someday reach the level of Lionel Messi and other legends.

In a recent interview with Betfair, Blaugrana legend Rivaldo emphasized the need for Barcelona to hone youngsters. One player the club has put its hopes on is Fati. He revealed that the 17-year-old winger agreed to a contract extension with Barca, with his release clause now set at €400 million ($465 million).

“It makes sense because Barca need to develop players who can take responsibility on the pitch and make the difference in big games,” the 48-year-old said of Fati's new deal.

Rivaldo noted that Fati now having a huge release clause in his contract means that the Catalan club sees the 17-year-old flourishing like the club's greatest players.

“His [Fati’s] big clause means that Barca have high hopes for Fati to become one of the great players in their history,” he continued. “They'll be hoping that one day he can be compared to Messi and other great players who were brilliant at Barcelona.”

At 17, Fati has earned multiple recognitions within the club and in international leagues.

To name a few, the winger became Barca’s youngest goal scorer on Aug. 31 when he hit the back of the net for Barcelona's first goal in an eventual 2-2 draw against Osasuna. On Sept. 6, Fati also became Spain’s youngest goal scorer after netting the third goal for the Spanish national team’s 4-0 against Ukraine in this year’s UEFA.

Last year, Messi vowed to help Fati succeed in the sport the way he did, suggesting that the then-16-year-old could become his successor.

But as much as “Leo” would like Fati to become a soccer superstar, he also wants the youngster to enjoy his youth and not rush in learning things.

"I really like him and I try to help and support him. He’s an amazing player and he’s got what it takes to succeed,” Messi told FIFA.com of Fati. “But if I look at it through my eyes, I’d like them to bring him on gradually, like they did with me when I started, taking things nice and easy and without putting pressure on him. You have to remember that he’s only 16.”

He continued, “I hope he keeps on enjoying it and that all the fuss around him doesn’t have a negative impact on him because he has the quality to become one of the best.”