Barcelona is prioritizing renewing the contract with 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who is impressing both the club and the country.
Mundo Deportivo reports that the teenager is one of Barcelona’s stars of the future and that the club is pleased to give him what he desires in the way of a new contract.
Although Manchester City and Liverpool have been two of the leading European clubs to have been in for the teenager, Yamal has said that he would like to stay at Barcelona—but he wants a deal to reflect his growing importance.
Yamal’s representative, Jorge Mendes, has forwarded the player’s conditions to Barcelona, and the club has responded positively.
The young striker is no longer just a promising young player; he is now a regular first-teamer at Barcelona and an international with Spain.
So he believes his new contract should make him one of the club’s highest earners—a view on which Barcelona’s sporting management agrees.
Sporting director Deco sees Yamal as a future team captain in the dressing room and is delighted to provide him with a top-grade salary.
But finances are still an issue at Barcelona.
The club still needs to be paid from VIP tickets to cover the cost of La Liga’s financial rules, which will slow the process.
But both parties are hoping a deal will be struck by May.
Mendes is, however, being cautious, aware negotiations are unpredictable when money is tight.
The plan is for Yamal to sign his new contract on his 18th birthday, July 13 or 14, when he is eligible to sign a long-term professional contract.
Barcelona feels the young player is completely committed to the club, and Yamal has given no sign of going elsewhere.
While Manchester City and Liverpool are monitoring, neither the player nor Barcelona seems fazed at their interest.
For now, everything indicates that Yamal will remain and continue his path with Barcelona, where he must be one of the faces of the club in the coming years.
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