16-year-old Barcelona ace Lamine Yamal set to sign his new contract on Monday
Deal through to 2026
Although a new contract for 16-year-old Barcelona wonder kid, Lamine Yamal, has been agreed for some time, a date has finally been set for the official signing.
Yamal has shown no fear whatsoever since being parachuted into the first-team by Xavi Hernandez, and indeed, doesn’t look out of place in the line-up despite his tender years.
Against Mallorca last time out, a match that ended in a 2-2 draw, some of the skills that the youngster has been renowned for were on show (pictures courtesy of La Liga/Viaplay).
It would be so easy to label the player as ‘the new Messi,’ which will be an unfortunate moniker for every skilful player at the club that comes after their Argentinian talisman.
Not only will he need to live up to the hype that Ansu Fati has so far failed to do - despite an initial burst of optimism before his knee injury - but he will have to get used to the close attentions of opposition players, some of whom will be at least double his age.
Fabrizio Romano announced the signing arrangements on Twitter: Lamine Yamal has signed his new Barça deal in July, ahead of the summer pre-season tour. Formal signature and announcement ceremony will take place on Monday, October 2. Barça will confirm Lamine's new deal valid until June 2026, limit for 16 year old players.
Generational talent
If the Catalan club can bring the player along slowly, in much the same way as Frank Rijkaard looked after Lionel Messi at the beginning of his Barça career, then they could be looking at another generational talent in due course.
That does require patience from both sides, however, so that his talent can come into its own and blossom at precisely the right time.
A question that Barça should be asking themselves is how many times in the past have supposed teenage world beaters swiftly ended up on the football scrapheap?
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