Barcelona president Joan Laporta has offered an update on Lamine Yamal’s new contract and says the club will give him “special treatment.”
Yamal is set to sign a new contract in the summer when he turns 18, and is also expected to be handed the No. 10 shirt at the club.
Laporta says an agreement has not yet been finalised but is almost done.
“It’s not done, but it’s been worked on. The [salary] has to be in line with his performances, not his age,” he told TVE. “We have to give him special treatment. We have to unite the club’s interests with Lamine’s. Let’s hope there’s understanding on both sides.”
The Barca president is also expecting the contract extension to go ahead as planned with no problems.
“There is always some suffering involved,” he added. “It’s been discussed, but it’s not signed. Lamine’s a great player, an extraordinary person and is already very mature.
“There are good feelings with his representatives and with his family. His agent, Mendes, advises him well. It will end well. He’s grown up here, he’s Catalan and he’s a Barça fan. He’s happy in Barcelona and is destined to be the best player in the world.”
Yamal is not the only player Barca are keen to renew. Laporta has also admitted that new deals for Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha are also in the works.
“[Sporting director] Deco will decide that, it’s an internal issue,” Laporta said.
“What I like about Lamine is that he has so much individual talent, but he’s also involved in how we play as a team. He’s a modern player that knows how to defend.”