Lamine Yamal has shaken the world with his talent this season and has made headlines every game he’s played. But now, as the season ends, his contract renewal discussions have been buzzing around. Reports claim that his new contract will make him the highest earner on the team. Is rewarding this much monetary benefit to a generational talent worth the risk? Let’s break it down.
Is Barcelona’s Teenage Sensation Already Too Valuable to Replace?
The plant, planted by Xavi in 2023, has blossomed far too quickly into a fruitful tree. Lamine Yamal has been just too good for his age. It’s safe to say that he has been Barcelona’s most decisive and consistent player this season. He has rattled elite defenses with his dribbling, created most chances like a season playmaker, and carried the Barca attack when others had a day off.
At just 17, he is already a Ballon d’Or contender and has a market value of 180 m Euros. But this number suddenly looks smaller when we see predators like PSG and Manchester City, who hunt talents with their deep pockets. Still, are these enough grounds to hand over Yamal the biggest pay cheque in the whole squad? Even higher than veterans like Lewandowski, de Jong, and Pedri?
Does Yamal’s Mega Contract Set a Dangerous Precedent?
Yamal’s entourage is led by his agent, Jorge Mendes, who has been an agent to players like Cristiano Ronaldo himself. Both player and agent sat down for lunch in Barcelona this afternoon and discussed matters. Mendes knows Yamal’s value is bigger than any player on the planet right now, and he surely has told the La Masia talent to take advantage of that.
While most might think it’s too early for Yamal to get this much money, I have more of a balanced take on this matter. Yamal deserves the highest-paid contract in the Barcelona team. This is because his gameplay, viewership, and shirt sales will also bring equally higher revenue to the club. Plus, Yamal has proven his worth this season. Barca should pay him more than any other player, but make sure they do not go out of bounds, like they did with Neymar.
Will Barcelona’s Wage Structure Fumble with this Contract?
Jorge Mendes has stated that Yamal will definitely renew with Barcelona. However, every day Yamal goes unsigned, Qatari billionaires itch for a Neymar 2.0. Manchester City or even Real Madrid might try to strike a Luis Figo 2.0. Sadly, Barca’s financial health is no secret.
Even though the chances of losing Yamal are very slim, the possibility exists until he renews. His wages might destabilize the Barca locker room, which is still recovering from Messi’s exit. The Financial Fair Play rules also might slap them again. But there’s no other option for Laporta. The Barca president can either watch Europe’s brightest gem rip apart defenses in another shirt or pay him and protect him.