Xavi plays key role in preventing Lamine Yamal from joining PSG – reports

Former Barcelona manager Xavi was instrumental in keeping Lamine Yamal at the club despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

Yamal was connected to PSG earlier this year when president Joan Laporta announced that he had rejected an astonishing €250 million offer for the young talent. While PSG later denied submitting such a bid, Yamal is now under contract with Barcelona until 2026, featuring a substantial €1 billion release clause.

Surprisingly, PSG’s interest in Yamal began even before his recent successes. At just 15, the French club had already identified him as a promising talent. His agent, Ivan de la Pena, received an offer from PSG, raising concerns at Barcelona about potentially losing the La Masia product for free when he turned 16.

Recognizing the urgency, Xavi took action and assured Yamal that if he wanted to remain at Barcelona, he would ensure his debut for the first team when the opportunity arose.

Yamal agreed to renew his contract in exchange. True to his word, Xavi saw Yamal make his debut at the Camp Nou on April 29, 2023, against Real Betis, at just 15 years and 9 months old.

Shortly after turning 16, Yamal signed his first professional contract on October 2, 2023. Both Xavi and Ivan de la Pena fulfilled their promises, playing vital roles in securing Yamal’s future. Additionally, agent Jorge Mendes influenced Yamal’s parents to allow him to represent the young star, adding another chapter to his promising career.

Cubarsi stated, “Lamine Yamal has no limits; you never know which way he’ll go.”