Barcelona is on the verge of extending the contract of Lamine Yamal (18), who is being called the successor to Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami).
According to 'Barça Universal,' which covers news about Barcelona, on the 5th (Korean time), citing Spain's 'COPE,' "Barcelona and Yamal have made significant progress on the contract extension, and negotiations between the club and the player's representatives are proceeding smoothly."
Yamal's contract expires in June 2026. This contract was signed in October 2023. However, Yamal is being referred to as the 'new Messi,' having set the record for the youngest La Liga debut in Barcelona's history (15 years, 9 months, and 16 days).
Selected by coach Xavi Hernandez, Yamal plays as a right winger, but his ability to create opportunities, perfect ball control, and exceptional dribbling remind many of Messi. This season, he has scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists in a total of 35 matches, bringing his career totals with Barcelona to 86 matches, 18 goals, and 23 assists.
Like Messi, Yamal is a product of Barcelona's academy, 'La Masia.' He made his La Liga debut as a substitute in a match against Real Betis in April 2023, setting the record for the youngest La Liga debut in Barcelona's history. His age at the time was 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days.
According to Barça Universal, no issues have been detected so far in the re-signing process between Yamal and Barcelona. This suggests that both sides share the same position regarding the new contract terms.
In particular, Yamal's agent, Jorge Mendes, is reported to have discussed the promising young player's future during a dinner with Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, and Deco, the sports director.
Mendes emphasized in an interview with COPE, "We only talked about Lamine. Everything is going well. He will re-sign."
Yamal's contract does not reflect the current situation where his importance within the first team has increased. Yamal, who is receiving the minimum salary among first-team players, is receiving more through bonuses based on his performance than his fixed salary.
The media reported that Yamal's new contract is expected to be valid until June 30, 2030. Although it was initially set to double his salary, it was noted that this would not be sufficient considering Yamal's rapid development and his key role within the team.
Barcelona is also evaluating that Yamal's contributions on the field have exceeded initial expectations. It is anticipated that this aspect will be reflected in Yamal's salary.
Additionally, the recent transfer of Vitor Roque (Palmeiras), which has improved the financial situation, has also influenced Yamal's contract. This has allowed Barcelona to respond more flexibly in negotiations.
Barcelona is expected to make an official announcement as soon as the new contract terms with Yamal are finalized. Through this contract extension, Barcelona has been able to secure the future of one of their most promising talents.
The return of Neymar (33, Santos) has become virtually impossible. Recently, there have been rumors in Europe about Neymar's return to Barcelona, suggesting that "Neymar is trying to recover his form at Barcelona in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America."
Spain's 'Sport' reported, "Barcelona is also interested in re-signing Neymar," adding that "President Laporta and sports director Deco plan to initiate transfer negotiations if Neymar scores 15 goals for Santos."
However, the ongoing discussions regarding Lamine's re-signing are making it difficult for Neymar's return. Coach Hansi Flick also stated regarding Neymar transfer rumors ahead of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Round of 16 first leg against Benfica on the 4th, "It's not my concern."
[OSEN = Kang Pil-joo, reporter]