Manchester City have reportedly launched a bid for Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old is on a meteoric rise in world football, having already won last year’s European Championships with his national team, Spain. At such a young age, he shows an incredible amount of promise and appears to be incredibly mature through his constant exposure to first-team football for club and country.
Unsurprisingly, his performances have caught the eye of almost everyone around the world and leaves Barcelona fans dreaming that they could have that replacement for their club legend, Lionel Messi. Manchester City appear to be one club hopeful of a move for the teenager, who would undoubtedly be a pricey signing. As things stand, the teenager has a release clause of €1 billion, but the financial position of the Spanish club could be a implication into selling.
Manchester City bid would shatter world record
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Cityzens are preparing a bid for Yamal that would shatter world records in football. The current world transfer record stands at €222 million when Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain. City look to shatter that for the teenage star with a bid of €275 million, which would see them in the record books for a third transfer.
Jack Grealish’s £100 million move from Aston Villa to the Etihad was a British transfer record at the time, and the €77 million they paid for Josko Gvardiol made him the second most-expensive defender of all time.
Times are uncertain at the Etihad for many reasons currently, and the side could potentially miss out on Champions League football. Kevin De Bruyne’s contract will expire this summer, and with no renewal being offered, they have a void to fill from losing the Belgian, one which is almost irreplaceable. Some unconfirmed whisperings have also told of how Erling Haaland could also force an exit from the club if they were to miss out on Europe’s elite.
Yamal should not jump ship for Manchester City
Understandably, it remains to be seen whether a bid does come to fruition. City are said to have confidence in Yamal’s future and hope they can lure him away from the Catalan club. However, after a fantastic start to life in senior football, which has seen him provide 46 goal contributions for his side and a major international trophy to his name, he is on a fast development track at the La Liga side.
There are a number of reasons why he should stay put, and the first of those is the legacy he could leave at the Nou Camp. The right-wing spot has become historic for the club after the career of Lionel Messi, and Yamal could be the closest thing they have to a replacement for the Argentine wizard. At such a young age, you would be cautious about making such predictions, especially after the career of Ansu Fati, whose time with the Spanish giants is said to be coming to an end this summer.
Off the back of this season, it is safe to say that his stock will only have risen, and only four have played more minutes as right-wingers than the 17-year-old. If reports are correct and Barcelona win the trophies still available to them this season, you would imagine that the bid is not enough to persuade them into selling the teenager. Perhaps, even now, it would be safe to say there would be no convincing them to sell.