FC Barcelona Try To Renew Contract Of La Masia’s Most Treasured Pearl Lamine Yamal

FC Barcelona are currently trying to renew the contract of their most treasured pearl in La Masia, Lamine Yamal, who could soon leave the club for free.

The youngster from Barcelona’s eastern suburbs is nearing his 16th birthday, which is when he could officially sign his first professional contract.

Already training with the first team, Yamal is especially liked by coach Xavi Hernandez who, akin to president Joan Laporta, is clear that the forward is a star for the future that could one day follow in the footsteps of the likes of Gavi and Alejandro Balde and become certified starters after graduating from La Masia.

Xavi isn’t putting any pressure on the boy, though, according to Mundo Deportivo, but always speaks well of him with his staff.

On the books with Barca since he was a PreBenjamin, or U-7, Lamal will be free to join a domestic or European rival from July 13 onwards – his next birthday – if Barca don’t tie him down to fresh terms, in what would be a catastrophic loss for the club.

Already playing with their U-18s and the Spanish national team’s U-19s, left-footed Lamal is progressing at a blistering pace and is able to operate in a number of positions such as attacking midfield, on the wings, or as a striker.

Barca will perhaps feel more comfortable with the fact that Yamal is represented by the same agent as Gavi in 90s club legend Ivan de La Pena.

Rather than try and turn Gavi’s head away from his boyhood outfit amid reported interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool, De La Pena listened to the player and his family’s wishes to stay put and held out until a cash-strapped Barca could present them with an offer.

De La Pena and Gavi also remained patient throughout the whole saga that arose from trying to register his new contract, resolved only when Barca gained permission from the court to press ahead – a ruling which La Liga intends to appeal against.

Though Lamal’s new contract isn’t likely to be one that goes above and beyond for someone his age, his first deal as an adult is likely to include a monstrous €1bn ($1.09bn) release clause like Gavi’s.