Get Newsletter
Notification products, updates
October 18, 2024
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that the club turned down a staggering $270 million (€250M) offer for their rising star, Lamine Yamal, during the summer transfer window. This bid, although not specified to be from any particular club, is believed to have come from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who were eyeing the teenage sensation as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid earlier this year.
In a bid to reassure fans, Laporta disclosed this while defending Barcelona’s transfer strategy, particularly the decision to allow certain players to leave. He denied that the club’s financial struggles forced their hand, stressing that Barcelona remains steadfast in its commitment to keeping its brightest talents, like Yamal, and that economic pressures didn’t dictate the departures as some have speculated.
“There are those that think we have [transferred players] to balance the accounts,” Laporta said in an interview with Barça’s in-house television channel. “But that is not the case. The players that have left have left for sporting reasons.
“[Ousmane] Dembélé, [Marc] Guiu … they won’t have things as good as they did at Barça at any other club.
“We know what we are doing in the transfer market. We want those that are the best and who want to be here to stay — and we have shown that.
“A club came to me to sign Lamine for €250M and I said no.”
Since making his first-team debut as a 15-year-old in 2023, Lamine Yamal has quickly become a key player for Barcelona and Spain. Now 17, Yamal has made over 60 appearances for Barça and played a pivotal role in Spain’s triumph at the European Championships this past summer.
In an interview with ESPN, former Barça star Cesc Fàbregas hailed Yamal as the biggest talent in world football. However, there are growing concerns about his exposure to senior football at a young age. Comparisons are drawn to Barcelona midfielder Pedri, who has struggled with injury issues since playing in the European Championships and the Olympics for Spain in 2021. The club is eager to avoid a scenario similar to Yamal’s.
A potential club-vs.-country dispute nearly arose this week when Spain coach Luis de la Fuente suggested that it should be the responsibility of clubs, rather than national teams, to manage player rest. However, tensions eased when Lamine Yamal returned to Barcelona following a hamstring strain he sustained during Spain’s match against Denmark.
“It’s the clubs that pay the players,” Laporta reminded De la Fuente. “You have to keep that in mind. [De la Fuente] proclaims [Spain] just have them for one game a month, very well, but we pay the players.
“We don’t want a repeat of what happened with Pedri. Making Lamine play [against Denmark] was reckless. Of course we defended our interests and they understood our planning and what the player felt.
“Lamine is a big personality and in the end the correct criteria was applied.”
Lamine Yamal returned to Barcelona on Sunday after missing Spain’s victory over Serbia on Tuesday. His availability for Barça’s upcoming LaLiga match against Sevilla remains uncertain, with the player considered touch-and-go. However, the club is optimistic that he will be fit for crucial forthcoming games, including the Champions League clash against Bayern Munich and the El Clásico against Real Madrid on Oct. 26.
This season, Yamal has been in excellent form, with five goals, five assists, and five points in 11 appearances. Alongside Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, he is part of the most productive attacking trio in Europe’s top five leagues.
Be your team’s biggest fan! Explore our site to show them how much you believe in them.
Footballnewstoday | La Liga 2 | Saudi Pro League | Major League Soccer | J League | EFL Championship | Brazilian Serie A