Not even PSG's €200m bid should persuade Barca to sell Yamal

Despite facing financial constraints, Barcelona needs to offload players this summer. However, even a bid as substantial as PSG's €200 million offer for Lamine Yamal, the world's premier wonderkid, shouldn't persuade Barcelona to part ways with him.

Despite Barcelona's financial struggles, they are adamant about retaining Lamine Yamal in Catalonia, even in the face of a €200 million bid from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president, has exhausted all options to alleviate the club's financial woes, having tinkered with finances over the years.

With the club still facing money troubles, the upcoming summer necessitates the sale of several assets to balance the books. However, Laporta is not content with maintaining the status quo; he aims to upgrade the squad, especially considering the strengthening efforts underway at Real Madrid.

While there are potential candidates for sale at Barcelona, most are unlikely to command significant transfer fees. However, Lamine Yamal stands out as an exception, with PSG even offering a staggering €200 million to secure the teenage sensation's services as part of their future plans post-Kylian Mbappe.

No matter the financial figures involved, the idea of selling Yamal should be completely off the table for Barcelona this summer. At just 16 years old, he represents the future of the club and has been one of the few sources of excitement during a challenging season. Yamal is an indispensable player, embodying the essence of someone Barca must retain at all costs.

Breakout season

It was widely known within Barcelona that Yamal possessed extraordinary talent and had all the attributes of a future superstar. Despite being three years younger than his peers, he consistently showcased his skills at La Masia and gained attention through viral videos.

Yamal's connection to the club ran deep, having grown up in Barcelona and even posing for a photo with Lionel Messi at the age of 13. At just 15, he was already called up to train with the first team. His celebration, throwing up his own area code after scoring, further solidified his status as a potential icon.

Yamal's debut in April 2023 was promising, earning praise from Xavi, who suggested he could "mark an era." However, his rise to prominence came earlier than expected. In August, he made a significant impact in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Tottenham, helping secure a 4-2 victory with his dynamic performance. Despite facing challenges such as injuries and suspensions, Yamal consistently delivered goals, assists, and captivating moments, solidifying his place in Xavi's lineup by Christmas and becoming an indispensable member of the Barcelona squad.

Shining light

Amidst a disappointing season for Barcelona, Xavi's team has faced challenges from the start. Real Madrid's anticipated improvement, coupled with Barcelona's lack of significant strengthening over the summer, hinted at a tough title defense. From the outset, Barcelona struggled at both ends of the pitch, lacking creativity in attack and defensive solidity compared to their title-winning campaign the previous season.

Individual performances also contributed to the team's struggles, with Robert Lewandowski's goal-scoring decline, defensive lapses from Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen's injury issues all affecting the team. Xavi's decision to announce his impending resignation in January came as a surprise to some, but given the team's difficulties, it was understandable.

However, amidst the disappointments of the season, Barcelona can find solace in the emergence of promising young talents like Yamal, who represents the future of the club. Alongside him, Pau Cubarsi has impressed as a standout center-back from La Masia, while Fermin Lopez has showcased his midfield prowess. Despite the challenges, Barcelona can find optimism in the potential of these young players, including Yamal, who embodies the hope for the club's future success over the next decades.

Financial woes

Barcelona's current situation stems from the financial mismanagement of former president Josep Bartomeu, who effectively bankrupted the club with poor financial decisions and disastrous transfer moves. This led to the inability to retain Lionel Messi in 2021, resulting in his tearful departure to PSG.

In an attempt to address the crisis, current president Laporta implemented risky strategies to generate immediate cash flow in exchange for long-term stability, essentially mortgaging the club's future for short-term gains. While this initially seemed to work, with Barcelona reclaiming the league title, the club's fortunes have since declined.

Barcelona's contentious relationship with La Liga president Javier Tebas has weakened their negotiating power on spending policies, forcing them to drastically reduce the value of their squad to comply with financial regulations if they wish to make new signings this summer.

Furthermore, some of Laporta's deals from last summer have not yielded the expected results, with one partner, German investor fund Libero, still owing a significant amount. Additionally, Tebas's ban on financial "levers" has further limited Barcelona's financial flexibility. As a result, the club finds itself in a precarious position with limited options moving forward.

Need to sell

Barcelona's financial situation necessitates significant player sales. Currently, their salary cap stands at €270 million, but according to La Liga's projections, it will shrink to just €204 million next season. While exceeding the cap won't result in direct sanctions, it will severely limit their spending power, forcing them to offload players before making new signings.

Some straightforward decisions have already been made, with veterans Sergi Roberto and Marcos Alonso set to depart, and several senior players agreeing to wage cuts. Additionally, removing the wages of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix, if they don't make their loan moves permanent, will provide relief. Further departures are expected, including loanees Ansu Fati and Eric Garcia.

However, these measures alone won't suffice, requiring Barcelona to make significant deals to address their financial challenges.

On the chopping block

One of the primary assets Barcelona could sell for a substantial sum is Raphinha. Despite recent improvements, the Brazil international hasn't fully lived up to expectations since his €65 million switch from Leeds United in 2022.

Despite his current form, he has attracted interest from top clubs like Arsenal, Newcastle, and Chelsea. Even if he's not in top form, his departure could still bring in a considerable return, and his absence may not be deeply felt.

Another player linked with a potential exit is Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan center-back was among Europe's best in his position last season but has struggled to replicate that form this campaign. While Araujo has expressed a preference to stay at Barcelona, elite clubs, notably Bayern Munich, are monitoring his situation, seeking defensive reliability.

There's also speculation about Frenkie de Jong's future, given his close call with a move to Manchester United in 2022. It wouldn't be surprising if he ends up being the player Barcelona sacrifices. Additionally, there have been murmurs in the Spanish media about the potential sales of rising midfield stars like Gavi and Pedri, although Laporta would likely be reluctant to part with them before their prime years.

Barcelona should make Yamal untouchable

Barcelona recently received a verbal offer of over €200 million from PSG for Yamal, a deal that would make him the second-most expensive footballer in history and the second-largest outright sale in Barcelona's history, both records currently held by Neymar's move to PSG. While such a tempting offer could potentially put Barcelona back on track financially, selling their prized academy product would be a significant loss for the club.

From PSG's perspective, acquiring Yamal makes sense as they prepare for the likely departure of Mbappe to Madrid. While Yamal may not be Mbappe, he represents a promising talent to build their team around for the future.

However, despite the financial benefits, Barcelona's identity as a footballing institution and Yamal's status as the best talent from their academy in years make his departure unthinkable. At this critical juncture in their history, facing the prospect of a challenging rebuild, retaining the teenager in Catalonia is paramount, as no amount of money can justify his sale.