Scaring PSG off: Huge salary increase on horizon for Yamal

Barcelona’s perfect start to the La Liga season ahead of Real Madrid has been one of the key European stories. The Catalan side has five wins from five games and an impressive tally of 17 goals. Amid the team’s strong collective performance, one player has stood out above the rest: Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old prodigy has contributed to seven of those goals. He has been one of the most productive players in the league so far. His rapid ascent to the top is nothing short of astonishing. Thus, Barcelona is already taking steps to reward their young star for his contributions.

Lamine Yamal has quickly become a key figure for Barcelona this season. He has played an incredible 446 out of 450 possible minutes so far. His rise is a testament not only to his immense talent but also to the trust that the Spaniards have placed in him. Still only 17, Yamal has already amassed three goals and four assists in La Liga.

His contributions are not just limited to his club. He has already earned a prominent role in Spain’s national team, helping them secure Euro 2024 glory. His ability to impact games at both the domestic and international levels has led many to label him the heir apparent to Lionel Messi’s throne at Barcelona.

Increased salary to match contributions of Lamine Yamal

According to reports from Marca, the club is fully aware that the teenager’s current contract no longer reflects his importance to the team. The winger currently earns a relatively modest $1.6 million per year. It is significantly lower than what his status as one of the most valuable players in La Liga would warrant. Barca is reportedly planning to give their superstar a significant wage increase this season. This should better reflect his contributions and importance to the team.

Once Yamal turns 18 in July of next year, the club will offer him a long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2030. This new deal will come with a salary that befits his superstar status. The decision to offer him a long-term deal also reflects the Blaugrana’s desire to protect one of their most valuable assets. Barcelona previously turned down a world-record bid from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024.

This summer, PSG made a massive bid of around $277 million to try and lure Yamal away from La Liga. However, the Catalan club swiftly rejected the offer, showing their commitment to keeping their star player at the club.

Yamal himself has expressed a strong desire to stay in Barcelona, reassuring fans that he has no intention of leaving. His loyalty to the club, combined with Barcelona’s efforts to secure his long-term future, means that Yamal is likely to remain a key figure at the Camp Nou for years to come.

Future of club

Lamine Yamal is just one of several young players that Barcelona are planning to build their future around. Alongside Yamal, La Masia graduates like Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and center-back Pau Cubarsi are seen as the core of a new generation of Barcelona players who will lead the team into a new era. These young talents represent a return to the Catalans’ famous philosophy of developing players through their academy, a strategy that brought the club so much success in the past.

Yamal’s rapid rise to stardom is particularly remarkable. Having made his debut as a 15-year-old in April 2023, he became Barca’s youngest player in over a century. Since then, he has gone on to score 10 goals and register 13 assists in 56 games for the club. His performances have earned him accolades at the international level as well, with Yamal becoming Spain’s youngest-ever player and goalscorer.

PHOTOS: IMAGO