Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that the Catalan club turned down a staggering offer of €250 million for teenage sensation Lamine Yamal during the summer transfer window.
The identity of the club that made the bid remains undisclosed, though reports have strongly linked Paris Saint-Germain to the 17-year-old as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappé.
Laporta’s comments come amidst a flurry of speculation surrounding Barcelona’s transfer dealings, with some suggesting that the club’s financial constraints had forced them to sell key players.
However, the president insists that all departures were driven by sporting reasons.
Yamal, who made his first-team debut for Barcelona at just 15, has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents in world football.
His performances for both club and country have earned him widespread praise, with former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas recently labelling him as the “biggest talent” in the game.
While Yamal’s rapid rise has been met with excitement, there are also concerns about the potential impact of intense competition on his development.
Barcelona midfielder Pedri has suffered injury problems in recent seasons after playing a heavy workload for both club and country.
To mitigate these risks, Barcelona has been cautious about Yamal’s workload, particularly when it comes to international duty.
A recent dispute with the Spanish national team over the player’s rest and recovery was resolved after Yamal returned to Barcelona with a hamstring injury.
Despite the challenges, Barcelona remains committed to developing Yamal into a world-class player. The club hopes that he can continue to thrive alongside Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski as they aim to challenge for major trophies this season.
