Barcelona are reportedly trying to extend Lamine Yamal's stay at the club but are eager not to repeat their past Lionel Messi contract fiasco.
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Yamal's current terms expire in 2026Talks over new deal with BarcelonaClub don't want Messi contract fiasco repeatFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to AS, Yamal signed a Barcelona contract in 2023 until the summer of 2026 but also installed a second extension until 2030 that would automatically be activated next year. However, as the deal was not formalised, the 17-year-old could be out of contract in just over 12 months. The report adds that his agent Jorge Mendes is in talks with Barca over a contract extension, but no deal has yet been struck.
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Both Barcelona and Yamal's representatives are said to be confident about the Spain international staying until at least 2030. But the Blaugrana are reportedly wary of creating a similar situation to the one that unfolded with Messi in 2021, when he left on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. The club's debt was above £1 billion, following years of overspending and the financial ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic, and that meant they could not afford to give the Argentine a new deal. Therefore, they don't want to be overstretched with Yamal's contract.
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AS add that Barca are preparing a contract proposal that would make Yamal the highest-paid player at the club. Hansi Flick's side know they need to get out the cheque book to keep the teenager as he is one of the world's best already.
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Yamal will now be focusing on securing his Barca side a victory away at Atletico Madrid on Sunday night in a battle between first and third in La Liga.
