Cannot compare Dybala to Messi: Antonio Cassano

Bengaluru, September 20: Former Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano has stressed Paulo Dybala is “incomparable” to Lionel Messi and says the Juventus star is more like Vincenzo Montella than the Barcelona icon.

After starting the season in blistering form for the reigning Serie A champions, Dybala continues to draw comparisons with his fellow Argentine for obvious reasons but Cassano believes that it is too early to compare the two.

Dybala has been quick to distance himself from such talk, and Cassano has suggested that the 23-year-old cannot yet be considered to be at the same level as global greats.

The ex-Italy international believes only Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo gets close to Messi, with Dybala’s skill set placing him a little down the pecking order in a talent pool which includes the man currently in charge of AC Milan – who also shone for Sampdoria and Roma in his playing days.

Cassano told the Tiki Taka show on Italia 1: “The comparison between Messi and Dybala? For me Messi is the greatest player in history and you cannot compare him to anyone - maybe a little to Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Dybala is a great player but is incomparable to Messi.

“For me, Dybala resembles Montella. He has great technique, is strong, smart and has so many goals, as did Vincenzo. Montella scored more than 150 goals and was an extraordinary player.”

Dybala has found the back of the net 10 times in just six appearances for Juventus this season, with his latest outing seeing him grab a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Sassuolo.

He told Sky Sport Italia after that game on the Messi comparisons: “I'm Dybala. It's not that I don't like the comparison, but he's a legend. He has done things that no one has ever done in the history of football.

"I don't want to be compared to anyone. You can send the messages but I want to have my own career and win my own trophies."