Barcelona's have PACT with exciting wonderkid - Romano

Tom Weber

• 8 Feb 2024 10:34 CST
• 3 min read

Barcelona already have a 'pact' with Lamine Yamal to extend his contract again when he turns 18, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Blaugrana wonderkid has had a stunning impact since he became the club's youngest-ever debutant late last season. The youngster, who is incredibly still only 16, featured prominently in Xavi's side during the first parts of the current campaign.

Since then, Barcelona have made sure to manage his minutes more to prevent another Pedri situation, with the midfielder seemingly incapable of staying fit after being overused when he first burst onto the scene.

This has also led to Yamal's production dropping off, with the teenage winger only notching one assist in LaLiga since October. Nevertheless, Yamal's talent is not in doubt and the 16-year-old has played the full 90 minutes in each of Barcelona's last four league fixtures.

The winger signed a new deal last summer but it can only run for three years due to his youth. With Barcelona keen to keep hold of the 'new Lionel Messi' for years to come, there is already a plan in place for his next contract, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Barca's Yamal pact

According to the Italian transfer expert, the Blaugrana have a verbal agreement with Yamal and his representative, superagent Jorge Mendes, that will see the prospect immediately sign a new long-term deal upon turning 18 in July 2025.

"Barcelona have a pact with Lamine Yamal and his agent Jorge Mendes to extend his contract again in 2025, as soon as the player turns 18," Romano wrote in his Daily Briefing. "This is part of the verbal agreement with the player and his agent, and it was confirmed by Deco in an interview in recent hours."

"Barca extended Yamal’s contract last summer, but they will do so again when he turns 18 and this is an important message from Barca - it will have the same release clause of €1 billion and a better salary." During that interview Romano alluded to, Barca sporting director Deco revealed that Yamal's new deal will run for a whopping eight years.