Lamine Yamal‘s rise to soccer stardom at Barcelona has been nothing short of meteoric. Just two years after making his senior debut at the tender age of 15, he’s become one of the world’s most valuable players, currently sitting at an estimated worth of €180 million according to Transfermarkt. However, before he exploded onto the scene, a top Premier League club reportedly came close to securing his signature – a move that could have dramatically altered the landscape of European soccer.
With Barcelona currently in the Champions League semi-finals and favorites to win La Liga, it seems almost impossible to imagine Yamal playing anywhere else. Yet, rewind to 2023, and the situation was very different. A potential transfer was on the cards, and Manchester City was the club reportedly pulling out all the stops.
City went ‘all out’ for the wonderkid
Spanish outlet Marca reported that Manchester City went “all out” for the Barcelona wonderkid, even amidst rumors of a potential controversial move to arch-rivals Real Madrid. The rumors were seemingly validated by Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s advisor, Enric Masip.
Masip admitted that there was a significant chance that Yamal could have left the club in the summer of 2023. “Yamal and Alejandro Balde have been in a serious situation to leave this summer because there is a club that tried to ‘catch them,'” Masip said, according to Radio Marca, via The Daily Mail.
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A replacement for Mahrez and Palmer?
Manchester City viewed the young winger as the ideal replacement for Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer, both of whom were sold earlier in the transfer window. Yamal’s talent and potential were clear, and City saw him as a player who could immediately contribute to their squad while also developing into a future superstar. His agility, pace, and goal-scoring instincts are all assets they wanted to add to their team.
Yamal chooses Barcelona
Ultimately, however, Yamal chose to extend his stay at Barcelona, signing a new deal in October 2023 that keeps him at the club until 2026. This deal included a release clause valued at a staggering €1 billion, reflecting Barcelona’s belief in his immense potential. The club made sure he was going nowhere.
Although there is just over a year left on his current deal, recent reports suggest that he will soon extend his stay well past 2026. The feeling is that he is happy at the club and feels that he owes them for the opportunity they gave him.
