Dani Alves makes Lionel Messi comparison after taking Ansu Fati under his wing at Barcelona

Dani Alves has called on teenage Barcelona forward Ansu Fati to emulate the achievements of Lionel Messi to help overcome his injury problems at the club.

After a breakthrough 2019/20 campaign at Camp Nou as a young prodigy, Fati suffered back-to-back serious knee injuries and has subsequently been hampered by various muscular issues. The 19-year-old has been involved in just five league matches since November 2020 and has endured his fair share of injury torment

Alves became the first signing of coach Xavi Hernandez at Camp Nou and the right-back was one of a quartet of January arrivals who have transformed Xavi's Barcelona – the club are undefeated in La Liga since early December. After signing Alves, Barca completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City and then secured the loan signing of La Masia graduate Adama Traore from Wolves before clinching the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Alves has grown close to Fati since the move.

Fati is the youngest player to play for Barca in 80 years while he was the youngest Spain international player to play for the side in 85 years. He is the youngest ever scorer for both club and country, the youngest ever player to score and assist in a La Liga match, the youngest ever scorer in an El Clasico fixture and the youngest ever player to score in the Champions League.

Alves told a recent interview with Diario Sport : "Me and Ansu talk a lot because he also speaks Portuguese and that common point has brought us together quite a bit. He has a great projection and he is a spectacular boy. He has a huge heart. His family is helping him a lot. You have to face life with personality and serenity, which is what he has done. To detect the problem and work to solve