- Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday night
- The teenager has thrived since breaking into the Barcelona first team set-up
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Former Barcelona boss Xavi reportedly played a crucial role in preventing Lamine Yamal from joining European rivals PSG at the age of 15.
Yamal was announced as the winner of the Kopa Trophy at Monday’s Ballon d’Or award ceremony in Paris.
The trophy is awarded to the best under-21 player in the world.
Yamal claimed the prize at just 17 years old after playing a key role in Spain’s European Championship triumph, as well as scoring seven goals and providing nine assists in his breakthrough season at Barcelona.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Yamal could have been playing in the French capital for PSG had it not been for an intervention from Xavi.
PSG reportedly made an offer to a 15-year-old Lamine Yamal to lure him from Barcelona
Then Barcelona boss Xavi promised to give Yamal his first team debut if he signed a contract
Yamal came on as a substitute against Real Betis at just 15 years old in April 2023
Yamal’s then agent Ivan de la Pena reportedly received an offer for the Barcelona academy star at 15, leading to fears at the Catalan club he could depart for free and sign a professional deal at the French side.
Barcelona legend and then manager Xavi reportedly intervened to convince the La Masia product to stay with the club.
Xavi is claimed to have promised Yamal he would give him his first team debut as soon as possible, as long as he signed a contract to remain at Barcelona.
The Spaniard fulfilled his pledge by introducing Yamal as a substitute against Real Betis in April last year.
Yamal played the final seven minutes of the match, becoming the youngest Barcelona player to feature in a league match at 15 years, nine months and 16 days old.
The winger then fufilled his promise by agreeing to sign a professional contract at Barcelona, snubbing PSG in the process.
Yamal signed a three-year professional deal in October 2023.
The contract includes a staggering release clause worth €1bn (£868m) in an effort to stave off interest from other European giants.
The teenager signed his first professional contract at Barcelona in October 2023
Yamal was confirmed as the winner of the Kopa Trophy on Monday as the best Under-21 player
The award came two days after Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in El Clasico history
Interest has unsurprisingly continued in Yamal as he continues to star with club and country at just 17.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta claimed earlier this year that he had turned down a bid of around €200milliion (£172million) for the wonderkid.
‘We’re receiving crazy bids for players like Lamine Yamal around €200m and we’re rejecting, of course,’ Laporta said in March.
‘We trust Lamine and we don’t need to sell’.
Yamal had offered his thanks to Xavi during his acceptance speech for the Kopa Trophy on Monday.
‘I am very proud to win this trophy,’ he said. ‘I want to thank the staff, the players, the national team, Luis de la Fuente, Xavi, who was there for me, and now Hansi.’
He became the third Barcelona player to win the award since it was introduced in 2018, following Pedri in 2021 and Gavi in 2022.
