“It came from France” - Barcelona executive claims club received €250 million offer for Lamine Yamal

Barcelona's executive Enric Masip has confirmed that the club received a €250 million offer from a French club for teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old is considered one of the most exciting talents in football and has seen his market value skyrocket following his exploits with La Blaugrana and the Spanish national team.

Yamal enjoyed a breakthrough year for club and country during the 2023-24 season. He became integral to Barcelona's setup under former manager Xavi Hernandez, registering seven goals and nine assists in 50 games across competitions. Yamal capped off the season with a brilliant performance at the European Championship, becoming the youngest goal-scorer in the history of the tournament as Spain clinched Euro 2024.

Speaking recently to El Chiringuito, Barcelona's executive Enric Masip confirmed that the club rejected an offer for Yamal. He said (via Barca Blaugranes):

"The president has already said that there was an offer worth €250m that was rejected and never even considered."

"It came from France," he added.

Masip's comments corroborate that of Barcelona's club president Joan Laporta, who said earlier in October that he turned down a sizeable offer for Yamal.

"They came to buy Lamine from me for 250 million euros and I said no six months ago. He is the most popular player in the world. What is Lamine’s real value?" Laporta said (as quoted by Barca Blaugranes).

Yamal currently has a market value of €150 million as per Transfermarkt. He reportedly also has a release clause of €1 billion in his contract with the Catalan club.

Barcelona executive heaps praise on Lamine Yamal

Barcelona executive Enric Masip also described Lamine Yamal as the "most decisive player in the world". He spoke highly of the 17-year-old, saying (via the aforementioned publication):

"I would say that right now he’s the most decisive player [in the world], yes,” he said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily good to speak about a 17-year-old kid being the best in the world, but for us, he is.

“I wouldn’t say we have won the lottery, but the year that Mbappé decides to go to Madrid — which was the cherry on top of the cake for a team that had won La Liga and the Champions League — you have a 16-year-old kid appear who wins the European Championship [with Spain] and becomes a global phenomenon in a very short time."

He continued:

“Suddenly, you’re in a league that begins as the league of Mbappé and it becomes the league of [Yamal] with the way he appears and plays in such a fun way — he is a different player.

“What Vinícius Júnior can do, Mbappé can do, players with speed, with that quality ... what Lamine does is something you saw in Messi, something different. Every game he does something that leaves you with your mouth open. It’s a privilege for LaLiga and Barça to have a player like that.”

Lamine Yamal has been in top form for Barcelona this season, contributing six goals and eight assists in 16 games. He missed the club's last La Liga match against Real Sociedad on November 10 due to an ankle injury but is expected to return soon.