Deco has responded to a recent report that [Lamine Yamal’s camp have asked Barcelona](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/5/21/24434346/lamine-yamals-camp-ask-barcelona-to-make-wonderkid-clubs-highest-paid-player) to make the teenager the club’s highest-paid player in contract talks.
It was reported this week that the demand has been made as negotiations continue over a long-term contract for the Barcelona wonderkid.
Deco has now told RAC1 that Yamal “has not asked personally” to be the top earner but also made it clear just how important he is to the team’s future.
> “Lamine hasn’t personally asked to be the highest-paid player on the squad. Lamine has never asked for anything.
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> “We’ve spoken with agents, and that’s not Lamine’s priority; it’s about having a supportive environment. His contract certainly needs to be tailored to reality, but the players don’t ask for that.”
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> “He’s on the right track. I see him with an unusual level of maturity. I have a son his age. We have to enjoy Lamine because it’s rare for that to happen to you. He’s a player who comes along every few years, with that personality, self-confidence, quality... But we can’t forget that he’s only 17, no matter how mature he is. He has to live his life and be happy. For a footballer at this level, that’s what’s important.
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> “For me, it doesn’t matter if you’re 17, 18, or 19. A player has to have a fair contract, and that’s what we’re going to do. The highest-paid player? That’s not important; he has to be one of the most important players we have. He has to be happy and content, and so do we. There’s no better environment or club to be at than Barça.”
[Yamal is expected to put pen to paper on his contract in July](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/5/19/24433149/lamine-yamals-barcelona-star-receive-new-contract-no-10-shirt-when-he-turns-18) when he turns 18.