XAVI HAD A KEY ROLE IN THIS STORY
The story behind how Lamine Yamal's possible departure to a top team in Europe was thwarted
Published:1/11/2024 - 09:54h
Updated:2/11/2024 - 05:38h
Before 'exploding' in the First Division with FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal was the object of interest from one of Europe's 'big boys'. What team was it? We tell you at FCBN
Talking about Lamine Yamal today means discussing one of the best footballers of the moment. The winner of the Kopa Trophy and a European champion with Spain, he has managed to establish himself, at just 17 years of age, as one of the offensive references of FC Barcelona. In the 2024-25 season, he has already scored six goals and provided seven assists in 14 matches played, showcasing himself as a player who leaves a lasting impression on the field, always captivating with some 'magical' detail that suggests he could soon enter the debate of the world's best footballers.
Given this, it's not surprising that several teams have shown interest in him, trying to tempt Barcelona with staggering amounts of money for a talent that seems to be worth it. However, as stated by Barça president, Joan Laporta, the offers were rejected since Lamine Yamal is a player cherished by the Blaugrana club, which aims to make him a cornerstone of their future sporting project.
Now, Lamine Yamal has not only attracted the interest of several teams by establishing himself as a top-level talent. Since his days at La Masia, when he began to stand out as a player with great potential, there was a club that showed interest in his situation and was willing to explore the option of taking him away from Barcelona. According to 'Mundo Deportivo', when he was 15 years old, Paris Saint-Germain showed interest in the Spanish-Moroccan forward.
Why did PSG's interest in Lamine Yamal not end up prospering?
The aforementioned source states that his agent at the time, Iván de la Peña, who also represents other Barça talents like Gavi, Eric García, and Aleix Garrido, received a very tempting financial offer from PSG, especially for a young player who had not yet debuted in La Liga. This situation caused some concern at Barcelona, as the young promise could have left for free when he turned 16 years old.
However, according to 'MD', the key to Lamine Yamal ultimately not leaving FC Barcelona rested largely on the intervention of Xavi Hernández, who apparently had a conversation with the young star in which he made it clear that if he wanted to stay at Barça, he would debut him in the first team as soon as the opportunity arose. In return, he asked him to consider renewing with the club. This agreement turned out to be fruitful as Xavi Hernández fulfilled his promise and Lamine Yamal made his debut, at 15 years, nine months, and 16 days old, in the match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis (0-4) on April 29, 2023.
The highlights of Lamine Yamal's debut against Betis#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/OXtgxgvtbv
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) April 29, 2024
Subsequently, on October 2, 2023, with more experience in the Barça first team, at 16 years old, he signed his first professional contract with Barcelona, an agreement that extends until 2026, the maximum allowed by regulations for a player of his age. A release clause of €1000 million was assigned to him, making him an untouchable player who has shown his desire to become a legend of FC Barcelona, an achievement that, with his current progress, does not seem an unattainable goal.
