The reason why Lamine Yamal rejected the opportunity to sign for Paris Saint-Germain has reportedly been revealed.
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Earlier this year, Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed that he rejected an offer worth €250 million (R4.7 billion) from the French giants to sign Spain's 17-year-old sensation. The teenage superstar is the best young player in the world following his Kopa Trophy win earlier this week and is undoubtedly a player the Catalan giants plan to build their future around.
While he is one of Barca's best players now, there was a point where his head was turned by the record Ligue 1 champions. When he was 15, and still yet to make his debut for the Blaugrana, his then agent Ivan de la Pena is understood to have received an eye-watering offer from Les Parisiens.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish giants were a bit worried that a similar situation which occurred with Xavi Simons could happen once again but then Barca head coach Xavi Hernandez stepped in.
The same report suggests that the former midfielder had a conversation with Lamine Yamal and told him that if he is serious about staying with the club, he would hand him his debut as soon as possible but in exchange, the young attacker would have to commit his future with the five-time European champions.
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So, on April 29 2023, during a 4-0 win over Real Betis, at 15 years 9 months and 16 days, Xavi gave the player a seven minute cameo. Lamine Yamal also kept his word because once he became 16, he signed his first professional contract with his hometown club.
