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Barcelona news: Jordi Alba responds to Lionel Messi being compared to Real Madrid ace
BARCELONA star Jordi Alba appeared to laugh off a question by a reporter asking if Los Blancos youngster Vinicius Jr could be compared to Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi scored his 400th La Liga goal on the weekend against Eibar in his side’s 3-0 win at the Nou Camp.
Real Madrid also played on Sunday night, beating Real Betis 2-1 thanks to a late Dani Ceballos goal.
Barcelona signed the Brazilian Vinicius from Flamingo in 2017 for a fee reported to be around £45m.
The starlet joined Madrid’s B-team before breaking into the first team this season, where he’s featured as a regular, stepping in for Cristiano Ronaldo, who left in the summer.
Vinicius Jr featured and impressed as his Madrid got back on winning terms away from home.
After the Barca game, though, Alba was asked by a reporter about the unlikely comparison.
“In Madrid they compare Vinicius with Messi. What do you think about that?,” the reporter asked.
Alba’s reply was plain and simple, and it was clear that he didn’t agree.
“Goodnight!” he said, before walking away. Messi’s often regarded as one of, if not the greatest footballer of all time.
However, comparisons between the Argentine star and young up-and-coming forwards have raged on for years.
There is, though, one player in the world who can be somewhat compared to Messi at the moment.
That man is Eden Hazard, who, along with Messi, is the only player in Europe’s top five leagues to have recorded double figures in goals and assists this season.
Alba also commented on his Barcelona contract, following his team’s win.
"Everything is still the same for me, I have a year left on my contract and I don't know what the club thinks. I'm calm,” he said.
"They have to see if they want to renew me and when they do want to renew me if that is the case.
"I want to stay here as this is the club that I love and have always supported, but it depends on them.
"For me, I can only control my own performance which I think has been good, but I don't expect anything from anyone."