Barcelona choose next No.10 after Messi snub

Stuart Telford

• 21 Jul 2023 20:26 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are set to hand teenaged prodigy Lamine Yamal the No.10 jersey famously worn by Lionel Messi after the club legend refused a return to Camp Nou to sign for David Beckham's Inter Miami.

Barca pulled out all the stops to bring Messi back to his spiritual home from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, including promising him his old No.10 jersey and a percentage of the sales its replicas made, but the Argentine has moved to MLS instead.

READ: Barcelona reach FULL AGREEMENT for signing - Romano

The Blaugrana are all but restricted to free transfers this summer with La Liga demanding that they reduce their debt by €200m - Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez have arrived by that means from Manchester City and Athletic Bilbao respectively - but they don't need to spend big for their next star No.10.

Yamal 'can define an era'

Indeed, he is already on the books in the shape of Yamal, the club's youngest ever debutant who was just 15 years, nine months, and 17 days old when he took the field in April's 4-0 win over Real Betis.

READ: Who is Lamine Yamal? Barcelona's prodigy drawing comparisons with Messi and Iniesta

"At first, Barca's plan is for Lamine Yamal to lead Rafa Marquez's Barca Atletic back into the second division this season," report Catalan daily, El Nacional. "Xavi has promised him a step up to the first team, though - the feeling is that he could one day define an era.

"Barca have no doubts that Yamal will be their next No.10. Ansu Fati has been a failure [with his performances in possession of the number] and Barca wouldn't hesitate to cash in if an offer arrives this summer. The next 10 will be Yamal, who is the most exciting academy talent since Messi."

Yamal wore the No. 41 jersey on his debut, but there is little question the iconic 10 will be his - especially after Barca's official club shop took Ansu's off their shelves due to low sales.