The revelation underscores Barcelona’s commitment to building their future around the cream of the La Masia crop. Yamal, who played a starring role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, has since established himself as one of the most feared attackers in world football. His rise was a rare bright spot during Xavi’s final season in charge, and under Hansi Flick, he has helped the club return to the pinnacle of Spanish football, securing a domestic treble last season and finishing as the runner-up in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings.
Former board member Joan Soler further highlighted this policy of retention, noting that Yamal wasn't the only homegrown star targeted by European heavyweights. Soler, as reported by SPORT, confirmed that there was a very important offer for Fermín from Chelsea this summer, but the club had no intention of cashing in. saying: “There was a very important offer for Fermín from Chelsea this summer, but the player didn’t want to leave, and we didn’t want to sell. Barca shouldn’t be a selling club, and we have to retain our homegrown players. We also had a €250m offer to sell Lamine [Yamal] in recent years. It came through agents, and that deal also fell through."