Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirms he rejected €250m offer for Lamine Yamal as he labels 17-year-old 'the most popular player in the world'

Paris Saint-Germain were reportedly ready to break the bank for Yamal and came knocking on Barcelona's doors with a world-record fee of €250 million (£211m/$277m) ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window to fill the void created by Kylian Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid. However, Laporta, firm in his belief in Yamal's potential, turned down the offer as he backs the youngster to create more history at Camp Nou.

Speaking about the offer in an interview with Barca One, Laporta revealed: "They came to buy Lamine from me for €250 million and I said no six months ago. He is the most popular player in the world. What is Lamine’s real value? Well, that is not reflected in the book value.”

In addition to discussing Yamal, Laporta addressed the state of the current Barcelona squad. He acknowledged that some players might be considering their futures but emphasised that anyone who wishes to leave must bring a reasonable offer.

“We did not want to sell, we thought we had to keep the team, which could give much more than it gave," he said. "I think we were not completely wrong, Flick is getting a lot out of it. Gundogan left and Olmo came. The players are performing much better than last year. Raphinha and Lewandowski have changed their faces. Whoever wants to leave should bring an offer for what they are worth and we will always study it. As Johan said, whoever plays here has to want to be here.”

Despite the immense interest from other clubs, Yamal remains committed to Barcelona. In a recent statement, the 17-year-old wonderkid declared his intention to stay at the club long-term, expressing his desire to become a Barcelona legend. His current contract includes a release clause set at an eye-watering €1 billion, effectively securing his future at Camp Nou until 2026.