Portuguese international Raphael Guerreiro has heaped praises on Borussia Dortmund teammate Youssoufa Moukoko saying the 16-year-old footballing prodigy has “enormous quality”, but urged both his admirers and critics to afford him the time and space to fully nurture himself.

The Cameroon-born striker has been shattering records this season as the Bundesliga’s youngest-ever player and with dazzling performances under Edin Terzic, the sky is the ceiling for the young boy.

“He has enormous quality,” the senior clubmate told Bundesliga’s official website. “He’s a very good finisher in front of goal. He’s very fast as well. He’s young so he needs time to adapt to the Bundesliga.

ALSO READ | Atletico hand renewed La Liga title hopes to rivals by losing to Levante

“He has already scored two goals, which is amazing for a 16-year-old. But I think he needs time to adapt to our game and our football. He’s been training with us almost since the beginning of the season, he’s getting to know his team-mates.

It’s all new for him – the opponents are different. They’re not 19 or 20-year-olds anymore. It’s challenging for him. But he’s a very good player and I’m certain that he’ll show that in the coming years.”

However, planting a bit of a warning sign, Guerreiro said, “He needs to be given time, he cannot be judged on his first matches. He needs time to work on himself, and in the coming years he’ll show his full talent.”

ALSO READ | Bundesliga: Bayern Munich slip up yet again before returning to Champions League

The teenager has kept rewriting record books since his senior debut last November – the youngest player and goalscorer in Bundesliga history and the youngest player in Champions League history. 

But as the records pile up, so will the pressure, and it’s on his coaches, teammates and family to shelter him from all the outside noise.