Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has compared City striker Erling Haaland to seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.

According to Guardiola, Haaland has some similarities with the Barcelona legend.

During a function in Italy, Guardiola said: “He (Haaland) shares the sense of goal with Messi, Messi was more of an attacking midfielder but give him a ball near the penalty area and he scores.

“That confrontation on the pitch with Haaland after the two goals? I’m not proud of having done it on the pitch, le had to do it in the locker room. But I know that with him I can do it, with anyone else I can’t.

“Velasco taught me this, you can’t treat all players the same way because everyone has their own character. The players have to worry if the coach doesn’t shout, you spend 11 months together, if you don’t create a relationship it’s more difficult.”

Haaland and Messi are set to battle it for the Ballon d’Or award this year.