Barcelona have once again underlined just how untouchable Lamine Yamal is to the club, after president Joan Laporta revealed they rejected a staggering €250 million offer from Paris Saint-Germain back in 2024 as reported by fabrizio romano via their official x handle.
Romano posted;
Joan Laporta: “Paris Saint-Germain offered us €250m for Lamine Yamal two years ago”. “We turned it down. He was 17 years old — some people thought we were crazy!”, says via
Laporta said PSG tried to sign the teenager when he was just 17, but Barcelona flatly refused, even as some people thought the club were “crazy” to turn down such a historic fee. The offer would have smashed the world transfer record set by Neymar’s move to PSG, but for Barça, Yamal was simply not for sale.
Since then, the teenager’s rise has only justified that decision. On February 22, 2026, Yamal reached 100 wins with Barcelona’s first team following a 3–0 victory over Levante, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to hit that milestone at just 18 years old.
Earlier this month, he also overtook Lionel Messi to become the youngest player ever to reach 40 goals for Barcelona, breaking a record that had stood for more than a century. For a player still in his teens, the list of achievements is already extraordinary.
Yet, despite the numbers and records, Yamal has not been immune to criticism. A recent viral rant among sections of the fanbase claimed that “dribbling isn’t enough,” with some supporters arguing that he overdoes flair in big moments and needs to show more maturity in his decision-making.
Critics say he sometimes complicates simple situations and remind that he is “not Messi or Neymar” yet, calling for more tactical guidance under Hansi Flick.
On the other hand, softfootball reported that many analysts and fans have rushed to his defence, pointing to his football IQ, creativity, and ability to change games almost single-handedly.
Performances like his recent masterclass against Benfica have been used as proof that his dribbling is not just showmanship, but a weapon that opens up defences and creates chances for the entire team.
With PSG still circling and interest from across Europe never far away, Barcelona have locked Yamal down to a long-term contract until 2031, protected by a massive €1 billion release clause.
For Laporta and the club hierarchy, the message is clear: no matter the money, Lamine Yamal represents the future of Barcelona and they are determined to build that future around him.
