Tying Lamine Yamal down to a new contract has proven to be more complicated than many at Barcelona predicted, according to report in Spain.

The teenage sensation currently boasts a contract until the summer of 2026 and has no intention of leaving any time soon. Just last month, Yamal claimed it would be “impossible” for him to join any other club.

Yamal’s agent Jorge Mendes has expressed the same opinion. “Lamine will stay at Barca, for sure,” the Portuguese representative told reporters last week. Yet, a new deal for the 17-year-old has not been forthcoming.

These contractual complications are a consequence of Yamal’s continued excellence. He is effectively in danger of becoming too good – at least in light of Barcelona’s delicate financial standing. The prodigious teenager signed a three-year deal – which was the longest contract permitted for the then-16-year-old – in 2023. AS claim that at the time of this arrangement, Yamal unofficially agreed terms for a new contract until 2030 which was set to be signed in 2026.

However, the situation has “changed”.

When Yamal’s existing deal was announced in October 2023, he had only made ten senior appearances and was yet to score a club goal. Over the subsequent 18 months, the fleet-footed right winger has amassed 78 more games for Barcelona, scoring 19 times while also starring for Spain at Euro 2024. No longer considered just the best young player in the world, many rank Yamal as one of the greatest footballers of any age on the planet.

Such status has understandably given Yamal’s representatives plenty of power in negotiations with Barcelona. Previous reports have revealed the club’s intention to cap the salary offered to their 17-year-old to avoid falling back into the same vicious cycle of constant contract renewals which Lionel Messi was afforded. Yet, AS claim that Barcelona are still prepared to make Yamal the best-paid player at the club.