Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club‘s star winger Lamine Yamal received a €250m (£208m) bid during last summer’s transfer window. The talented teenager, who made his debut for Barcelona’s senior side at the age of 15, established himself as a first-team regular last season. Yamal impressed at Euro 2024, scoring a stunning goal against France in the semi-finals and helping Spain defeat England in the final.
Reports emerged before the knockout rounds of Euro 2024 that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had tabled a world-record offer for Yamal, who was still only 16 at the time. Laporta confirmed this bid but did not disclose PSG as the interested party. He stated in an interview with Barcelona’s in-house media channel that he rejected the €250m offer.
Laporta had the ability to reject PSG’s offer because Yamal has a release clause of €1bn in his three-year contract signed in October 2023. This clause ensures that any potential suitors must meet an astronomical fee to secure his services.
Barcelona has faced financial struggles due to past extravagant spending, forcing Laporta to carefully manage their finances since becoming president again. However, Laporta emphasized that player sales were not driven by financial necessity but rather sporting reasons.
Yamal is already considered one of the best wingers globally and is difficult for managers to leave out of their starting lineup. However, he recently suffered a minor hamstring injury while playing for Spain against Denmark in a UEFA Nations League match. This injury could potentially sideline him for Barcelona’s upcoming game against Sevilla.
Laporta expressed dissatisfaction with Spain boss Luis de la Fuente starting Yamal despite concerns about player workload and potential injuries. He emphasized that they want to avoid repeating what happened with Pedri and ensure proper planning and consideration for players’ well-being.
Laporta’s confirmation of PSG’s record-breaking bid highlights Yamal’s immense talent and value as one of Barcelona’s key assets on both sporting and financial fronts.