Exclusive: Barcelona sources give two-word response to Arsenal and Liverpool's Lamine Yamal links
Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked with the winger...
Barcelona sources insist that the speculation surrounding Lamine Yamal’s future are ‘totally untrue’ amid claims that the Spain international is a target for Premier League giants Liverpool and Arsenal.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
With Barcelona’s well-publicised financial issues very much still a cause for concern, reports have even suggested that the Kings of Catalonia could sell the jewel in their crown.
Speculation emerged this week claiming that Lamine Yamal could be sacrificed.
Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly interested in the teen sensation, Yamal justifying comparisons with a young Lionel Messi during Spain’s victorious European Championship campaign over in Germany.
TBR have been told by sources close to the Blaugrana outfit, however, that Barcelona have no plans whatsoever of letting Yamal go.
The claims that he could be sold, meanwhile, are nothing short of being ‘totally untrue’.
Arsenal and Liverpool’s Lamine Yamal links dismissed by Barcelona
What’s more, with Barcelona expected to make their Camp Nou homecoming in 2025 after two years away – their iconic stadium is being renovated and will return with an increased capacity of over 100,000 – the La Liga giants believe that their financial situation is heading in the right direction.
As such, there may no longer be a need to consider offers for their star players in the near future.
And, even if there was, Lamine Yamal would be just about the last one Barcelona would look to part with, given his connection to the club, his remarkable potential, and what he represents given his La Masia grounding.
Still only 17 years of age, Yamal is just two shy of 50 La Liga appearances.
The winger already has 12 goal contributions in 13 appearances this term, playing a starring role during the Raphinha-inspired 4-1 hammering of Bayern Munich in the Champions League this week.
“Now, it will be easy to say; Of course, I see him as the best winger in the world!” Barcelona team-mate Robert Lewandowski – a man nearly two decades Yamal’s senior – said a few weeks ago.
“But of course, he is 17 years old. A football career is so long, sometimes it’s not important how you start. What’s more important is how you finish or how will be the next years, not two or three years but the next 10-15 years.
“And in the next 15 years, he will be 32!”
Yamal’s stunning emergence as one of the finest attackers on planet earth just 14 months after making his first ever Barcelona start is in stark contrast to the stalling career of Ansu Fati.
The man who inherited Lionel Messi’s number ten shirt at Barca is only 21 years of age himself. But, following a series of injury issues and after a difficult loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion, Barcelona sources admit that Fati will be made available for transfer in the January transfer window.
As Lewandowski says, a footballer’s career can be long and full of complications. The cautionary tale of Ansu Fati is a reminder to Lamine Yamal that talent only accounts for so much. Even the greatest up-and-comers need a little bit of luck on their side too.
Barcelona ready to cash in on former Brighton loanee Ansu Fati
Fati’s misfortune was summed up in pre-season. After initially impressing new Barca boss Hansi Flick, the winger would then suffer another injury which once again put his progress on pause.
“Ansu, on the first days, was unbelievable,” Flick said at the time. “He was very fit, and he showed it on the pitch and in training.
“And now it is not good. We don’t have him here and in America [for pre-season]. But we will help him come back stronger.”
Ansu Fati made 19 Premier League appearances for Brighton and Hove Albion in 2023/24. He was only included in Roberto de Zerbi’s XI on three occasions, however.
Wolves were linked with Fati after selling Pedro Neto to Chelsea. Gary O’Neil’s side opted to bring in Carlos Forbs from Ajax instead.
As for Yamal, while Barcelona’s number 19 may not be an option for either Arsenal or Liverpool, the English giants are both keeping tabs on another of Europe’s most prosperous forwards.
TBR understands that the teams of Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta are watching Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush.
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