Lamine Yamal a genius ‘like Dalí or Michelangelo’, says Spain’s De la Fuente

• ‘What we think is exceptional, they consider normal’

• Coach says Lamine Yamal fit to start against Saudi Arabia

Luis de la Fuente urged people not to compare Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona or “anyone”, but did compare him to Salvador Dalí and Michelangelo – “geniuses” for whom the exceptional comes naturally.

On the eve of their second World Cup game, against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, it was put to the Spain coach that Lamine Yamal is confronted by a process similar to those faced by Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona but at the age of 18. His image is everywhere in the United States, a global figure already, and the buildup to the selección’s participation at the tournament has been dominated by his availability after an injury he suffered in April – a teenager cast as their hope and salvation.