FC Barcelona are preparing to strengthen the future of their young prodigy, Lamine Yamal, after the successful contract renewals of Pedri and Gavi. Yamal, who has established himself as one of La Liga’s most promising talents, is expected to be the latest to negotiate an extension under the watchful eye of Deco, the club’s sporting director.
Deco focused on consolidating the group’s talent rather than seeking new recruits, a sentiment shared by coach Hansi Flick. “It is crucial to discuss the future with the players who are already here, because they are essential to the success of the team. Deco’s approach fits into this philosophy, and I appreciate that,” commented Flick, emphasizing the importance of retaining key players in the squad.
Efforts are underway to secure contract renewals for Pedri and Gavi before the winter transfer market closes on February 3. A strong relationship exists between Deco and Pedri’s agent, Héctor Peris, as discussions have progressed to extend the midfielder’s contract until 2030. Pedri’s commitment to FC Barcelona is unwavering, while he aims for glory with the club, supported by his family who accompanies him during away matches. The recent lifting of La Liga’s financial restrictions has allowed Deco to act more freely, and final adjustments are being made to the release clause in Pedri’s new contract.
Read more:
The challenge of stopping Aimar Oroz
Pedri, alongside teammates Jules Koundé and Cubarsí, has been instrumental this season, appearing in all 31 matches and exceeding 2,379 minutes of play. Given this workload, Flick has been careful to manage his minutes, stating: “Pedri is playing exceptionally well. We are careful to limit his minutes at the end of matches to ensure his longevity this season. »
This will mark Pedri’s second contract renewal with FC Barcelona since joining the club on August 20, 2020, aged just 17. Gavi, another key player, will also sign an extension until 2030. Since his temporary signing in September 2022, he has played 678 minutes upon his return on October 20, starting the last four matches. Flick is considering giving Gavi a rest in the next match against Valencia, which could allow players like Fermín or De Jong to gain valuable game time.
-
Read more:
James Rodríguez scores his first goal with León and attracts the attention of major football authorities
Deco’s goal is to maintain a €1 billion release clause for Gavi and Pedri. That ambition has been more difficult to achieve under Ronald Araújo, who recently extended his contract until 2031 after considering his options during the January transfer market. Although the details of Araújo’s new release clause have not been disclosed, it is known that the new amount will be lower than the previous 1 billion euros. FC Barcelona are also monitoring Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah in case there are any changes to the squad this summer.
Read more:
A Burgos native in the La Liga spotlight
The club is determined not to let Lamine Yamal’s contractual situation resemble that of Araújo. Yamal’s current contract, which earns him 2 million euros net, was signed a year ago and runs until 2026, the maximum duration allowed for a minor. Deco has already laid the groundwork to extend Yamal’s contract until 2030 once he turns 18, with a preliminary agreement having already been signed by Yamal’s parents. Once Yamal signs the extension, it will solidify his place in a team focused on his promising future, with his market value estimated at an impressive €180 million.
