On April 29, 2023, Yamal made history by debuting for Barcelona’s senior team at just 15 years old in a La Liga match against Real Betis. Fast forward two years, and the young Spaniard is now considered one of the brightest talents in world football, with an impressive €180 million valuation on Transfermarkt.
Before becoming a global sensation, however, Yamal was almost lured away from Barcelona by a Premier League giant. Spanish outlet Marca reported that Manchester City made a significant effort to sign him in 2023, a move that could have strengthened their already powerful squad. There were even rumors of a potential surprise transfer to Real Madrid.
Enric Masip, advisor to Barcelona president Joan Laporta, later confirmed the danger, stating on Radio Marca (quoted by *The Daily Mail) that both Yamal and Alejandro Balde were close to leaving the club due to interest from a top suitor.
Now, with Barcelona aiming for a Champions League final and leading the La Liga title race under Hansi Flick, luring Yamal away from the club seems almost impossible. However, in 2023, his future was uncertain, and this nearly altered the trajectory of European football.
Manchester City had identified Yamal as a perfect replacement for Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer, both of whom had left earlier in the transfer window. Despite this, Yamal chose to stay at Barcelona, signing a new contract in October 2023 that ties him to the club until 2026, with a massive €1 billion release clause.
Although his current contract still has over a year left, reports suggest that Barcelona is already negotiating a long-term extension to keep him at the club beyond 2026.
