I prefer LeBron James to Messi - Barcelona youngster, De La Fuente

Barcelona youngster, De La Fuente has stated that he sees LeBron James as a bigger influence to him than Lionel Messi his teammate.

The 18-year old who said Ronaldinho was his childhood idol stated this with regard to the fact that LeBron plays in a different sport.

"My favorite player is LeBron," he told ESPN. "He's my idol.

"I'm just a LeBron fan, probably the biggest fan in the world. I play basketball as a hobby, and I'm not that good at it, but it's incredible how much I like him.

"I just like the way he plays, his work ethic, how he is off the field, his ambition to improve even though he is the best. It's incredible and I really admire it.

"Even though I am not a basketball player, but I want to be like that in the soccer world. In that sense, [he's a bigger influence than Messi for me]."

De La Fuente also looks up to star player Lionel Messi just like any new player at Barcelona.

"He [Messi] was having an interview at La Masia and I was there," De La Fuente said. "When the interview was over I went to go take a picture of him.

"And as I'm walking up to him -- I'm with two of my other friends -- I'm like 'Oh, it's Messi, it's great.' I'm like almost shaking. And I asked him if I could take a picture and he goes: 'Yeah,' and I have my phone in my hand, and I'm looking down at my hand is trembling.

"It was crazy. I've never felt like that in my life."

"It's not that I'm used to [seeing Messi now] but I still get a little starstruck but not like that," he added.