Barcelona have 'secret' Jorge Mendes pact - Romano
Barcelona have agreed a “secret” pact with super agent Jorge Mendes that will see Lamine Yamal’s contract extended when he turns 18.
The Blaugrana wonderkid has burst onto the scene this campaign, with two assists in eight La Liga appearances and a goal on his senior Spain debut.
Yamal’s first professional contract at Barcelona has not been publicly announced by the club, despite the fact it was signed in July according to Fabrizio Romano.
READ MORE: Why Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is not in EA Sports FC 24
Due to the fact he is only 16, Yamal can only sign a three-year deal at Camp Nou.
However, the club have made a “secret” pact with Mendes to increase this to a five-year deal when Yamal turns 18.
In his latest YouTube video, Romano explained Lamal’s situation at Barcelona. “For Lamine Yamal [his new contract] will be made official this week, could be on Monday,” he said.
READ MORE: Should Pedro Neto join Arsenal in 2024?
“Everything was signed in July and now there will be the formal step and ceremony for this top talent Lamine Yamal to sign a new deal at Barcelona.
“The limit paying a 16-year-old is to sign a short-term contract - a three year contract valid until June 2026. That is the only way.
“But there is a secret pact between Barcelona and the agent of the player, Jorge Mendes, to make this deal a five-year deal when Lamine will turn 18 in 2025. As of now, he will sign to 2026 with a release clause of €1 billion.”
Man City wanted Yamal
According to RadioMarca, Manchester City tried to sign Yamal this summer, but the youngster rejected the move.
Furthermore, one Barca board member told Marca: “Lamine Yamal and [Alejandro] Balde were in serious danger of leaving this summer because there is a club that tried to poach them.”
It has now been reported that Man City were the club who tried to sign Yamal; it’s not yet known whether the reigning treble winners also attempted to sign Balde too.
However, despite City’s best efforts, they were not able to convince Yamal to leave his boyhood club.