Lamine Yamal has rarely featured as a goalscorer, but that has changed this season. He’s even scoring on the cheap at the moment – but not for long
There have always been those unfulfilled promises at FC Barcelona. Just think back to Bojan Krkic, Ivan de la Pena or Javier Saviola – young stars at the Blaugrana who failed to make the big leap. Ansu Fati’s star has also faded in the meantime
But Lamine Yamal, everyone at Barcelona agrees, is more than just hype. Especially as he is now scoring goals: In the Catalan derby in Girona (4:1), he put his team on the road to victory with a brace; his statistics already include three goals and four assists in the still young season.
“He made the difference,” said Hansi Flick. The first goal was the result of consistent pressing. This forced Girona’s David Lopez to dribble into his own penalty area. Yamal slipped the ball through his opponent’s feet and scored to take the lead. “It’s important that everyone puts pressure on up front,” emphasized Flick, who described the goal as ‘incredible’. Yamal completed his first La Liga brace a little later with a left-footed shot, surprising even his coach: “Normally he sets up the goals and doesn’t score them. ”
However, very little is normal for Yamal – apart from his salary. According to Marca, the 17-year-old earns a slender €1.5 million per year, the salary was set when he signed in October 2023. Barcelona gave him a contract until 2026 at the time, a longer term was not possible due to his age.
New contract in the pipeline
However, Barcelona have long since decided to extend his contract during the current season and, of course, to adjust his salary, financial fair play requirements or not. It will not fail because of Yamal, who recently made his commitment to the Catalans very clear. The jewel is considered unsellable at Barcelona. President Joan Laporta only reported in the summer that the club had turned down an offer of 200 million euros from PSG.
Yamal will be able to prove his scoring prowess again on Thursday in Monaco, as he is still waiting for his first goal in the top flight despite ten appearances. The European champion will now be more important than ever – after all, Dani Olmo, a player who has scored in each of the last three games, will be out for weeks