A Premier League club once came close to pulling off a huge signing of Lamine Yamal before he burst onto the scene at Barcelona.
On April 29, 2023, Lamine 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 widely regarded as one of the top talents in world football, with a staggering €180 million valuation on Transfermarkt.
However, before becoming a global sensation, Yamal was nearly lured away from Barcelona by a Premier League powerhouse. Reports from Spanish outlet Marca revealed that Manchester City launched a major push to sign him in 2023—an effort that could have transformed their already dominant squad. At the time, there were even whispers of a shock move to Real Madrid.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s advisor, Enric Masip, later confirmed the threat, stating via Radio Marca (as quoted by *The Daily Mail) that both Yamal and Alejandro Balde were seriously close to leaving the club due to interest from a major suitor.
Now, with Barça chasing a Champions League final and leading the La Liga title race under Hansi Flick, prying Yamal away seems nearly impossible. But in 2023, his future hung in the balance—nearly altering the course of European football.
Manchester City had identified the young winger as an ideal successor to Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer, both of whom departed earlier in the transfer window. However, Yamal opted to remain at Barcelona, signing a new contract in October 2023 that ties him to the club until 2026 and includes a staggering €1 billion release clause.
While his current deal still has over a year remaining, fresh reports indicate that Barcelona are already working on a long-term extension that would keep him at the club well beyond 2026.
