Lamine Yamal to Real Madrid?! Deco lifts lid on offers for Barcelona wonderkid and hits back at claims teenager wants to be 'highest-paid player'

At 17 years of age, history-making youngster Yamal is preparing to sign a lucrative senior deal. He will be able to put pen to paper when turning 18 in July, and Barca already have terms pieced together for their exciting Golden Boy winner.

Yamal’s standing in Catalunya will be recognised, as he becomes a talismanic presence for one of the biggest clubs on the planet, but he has not made any outlandish demands. Blaugrana director Deco has told RAC1: “He didn't ask to be the highest-paid player on the team. That's not true. He just wants to be happy here. He has to live up to his age a little, no matter how hard it is, and he has to be happy. A player at this level has to be happy.

“For me, it's not a matter of whether he's 17, 26, or whatever; for me, football has to be fair and he has to have a contract that suits him. It's not a matter of being the highest-paid player; the important thing is that he's happy. For me, there's no better club for him than Barca. Contracts are four, five, or six years, somewhere in the region.”

Barcelona are understandably keen to get Yamal tied down on a deal that fends off any unwelcome interest from afar. Asked if offers have been received for the teenage wonderkid, Deco added: “Yes, last season, not this one yet, but what we want is for him to stay. We don't want to listen to offers, but PSG asked, but Real Madrid didn't.”

Yamal is already considered to form part of the global elite, and Deco expects him to land a Golden Ball at some stage. The former Barca playmaker - who played alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho - said: “I want him to win the Ballon d'Or. We have some players who can reach this, and Lamine is one of them. Raphinha, for the season he's had, is spectacular, but we'll see. Of course I would like a Barca player to win the Ballon d'Or.”

Yamal has helped Barca to a domestic treble in 2024-25 - with La Liga, Super Cup and Copa del Rey crowns being captured. He will form part of Spain’s bid for UEFA Nations League glory in June.