Report reveals how Xavi saved Barcelona from losing Lamine Yamal to PSG back in 2023 | OneFootball

Over the last year, Lamine Yamal has clearly shown the world that he is one of the best players in the world today. The FC Barcelona prodigy is no longer just an up-and-coming starlet, but is already a star despite being only 17 years of age.

The youngster won the Kopa Trophy only a few days ago, but he was also in contention for the Ballon d’Or and is already expected to get the biggest individual prize in football in the coming years.

Thus, he is one of the most valuable assets in this Barcelona team, and the Blaugranes should be grateful for having him in their team, especially as his continuity at the club was not always guaranteed.

Joan Laporta has stated that the Catalans rejected a €200 million offer for him, while Fabrizio Romano revealed that PSG was prepared to do something crazy to sign Yamal last summer.

But as Mundo Deportivo has reported, the Parisians had already set their sights on Yamal when he was 15 years old, and made a dizzying offer to his agent at that time, Ivan de la Pena.

The report claims that there were concerns in Barcelona about Yamal’s future at that time, as he was already believed to be the pearl of the academy. He could have left the club for free after turning 16 and was saved by the intervention of Xavi Hernandez, who was the head coach of the first team at that time.

Xavi spoke to Yamal directly, and promised him he would help him achieve his dream of playing for Barcelona by making his debut whenever he got the opportunity. In return, he will have to renew with the Catalans.

Xavi kept his word and introduced Yamal on the pitch for the first time on 29th April 2023, when he was only 15 years and 9 months of age, at Camp Nou against Real Betis. On the other hand, Yamal also kept his word by renewing his contract with Barcelona once he turned 16 years of age.

Ivan de la Pena, Yamal’s former agent, also made an effort to ensure his client continued at Barcelona before he was succeeded by Jorge Mendes.