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Barcelona’s brightest young star, Lamine Yamal, faces an uncertain future as the club’s deepening financial crisis sparks speculation of a blockbuster Premier League move. The 16-year-old phenom, hailed as the heir to La Masia’s legacy, has repeatedly vowed to stay loyal to Barça beyond his 2026 contract expiration. But with the Catalan giants still tangled in La Liga’s financial fair play (FFP) web, Liverpool and Manchester City lurk in the shadows, ready to pounce. Could history repeat itself, mirroring Lionel Messi’s painful 2021 exit?
Barcelona’s battle to keep Lamine Yamal with the team
Despite Barcelona’s public insistence that Yamal is “going nowhere,” their economic reality tells a darker story. La Liga confirmed this week that the club remains in breach of FFP regulations, with president Joan Laporta unable to ease manager Hansi Flick’s growing concerns. A glaring red flag? The collapse of a €100 million VIP seating deal—omitted from official accounts—exposes the dire state of their finances.
Amid this turmoil, Barcelona’s promise to secure Lamine Yamal with a record-breaking contract through 2030—placing him at the “top of the squad’s salary scale”—rings hollow. Sources close to Mundo Deportivo reveal that negotiations are fraught with “complications,” as agent Jorge Mendes grows wary of verbal agreements. The superagent, burned by Barça’s failed permanent deals for João Cancelo and João Félix, insists any terms remain “subject to review.”
Enter Liverpool and Manchester City. The Premier League titans, per reports, are monitoring Yamal’s situation with hawk-like precision. While the teenager’s camp prioritizes staying put, Barcelona’s inability to guarantee financial stability could force Mendes’ hand. For context: even Dani Olmo’s recent registration victory hasn’t eased FFP pressures, leaving Lamine Yamal’s future dangling in limbo.
A modern-day Messi saga?
Yamal’s predicament eerily mirrors Messi’s emotional departure—a legend sacrificed at the altar of financial mismanagement. Though the club scrambles to avoid déjà vu, La Liga’s blunt statement—“Barcelona have no margin to comply with FFP”—paints a grim picture. With no quick fixes in sight, the allure of Premier League riches grows harder to ignore.
For now, Lamine Yamal remains the face of Barça’s next generation. But as their economic storm rages, Liverpool and City’s interest could soon turn into a bidding war neither Catalonia nor football fans will forget.
