Barcelona advisor names the team behind massive €200 million offer for Lamine Yamal | OneFootball

Enric Masip, advisor and close associate of Joan Laporta, has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain made an offer of €200 million for Lamine Yamal during the summer transfer window.

In an interview with El Chiringuito TV, Masip was asked about this substantial proposal, which he confirmed “came from France.” Laporta had previously stated that the offer was rejected, as it was never seriously considered by Barcelona.

“The president has already said that he had an offer of €200 million that he rejected and that he never considered it,” he began saying.

PSG wanted a replacement

Masip elaborated on the offer and when asked about the timing of the offer, with Kylian Mbappe leaving, suggested that Yamal was seen as the perfect replacement.

Masip smiled and acknowledged that PSG, with their financial resources, were in a position to make such an attempt to sign a player like Yamal.

“The perfect substitute, right? Mbappe leaves and then Lamine arrives.”

He remarked that when a club has the money and the ability to pay, they can try to sign any player they desire.

“Well, when you have money and you have a way to pay for it, then you can aspire to try to sign everything,” he added.

Comparisons with Lionel Messi

Masip was also asked about comparisons between Yamal and legendary Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, to which he agreed that it was natural to make such comparisons.

“Yes, and it’s going to be like that because the boy doesn’t leave you indifferent either.”

He recognized that Yamal’s performances on the pitch often leave fans in awe, with his skills and talent making a lasting impression. Masip highlighted that having a player like Yamal is a privilege for both Barcelona and La Liga.

“That is, every game he does something that leaves you with your mouth open. It’s a privilege for La Liga and Barça to have a player like that.”

More on Yamal

Lamine Yamal has made quite an impact. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

When questioned whether Yamal was already the best player in the world, Masip was cautious in his response.

While he acknowledged that the 17-year-old was currently one of the most decisive players in the world, he emphasized that labelling him as the best at such a young age could put unnecessary pressure on him.

“I would say that right now he is the most decisive player, yes. Let’s see, talking about a 17-year-old as the best in the world is not good for him, right?

For us, yes… for us to think that we have the best in the world, I think it’s nice,” he noted.

However, Masip did express how exciting it is for Barcelona and La Liga to have a player like Yamal, who has quickly become a global sensation.

He pointed out how the timing of his arrival, alongside the departure of Mbappé to Real Madrid, made Yamal’s emergence all the more special.

“I won’t say it was like a lottery, but of course, it was the year when Mbappe decided to go to Madrid, which was like the cherry on top that was missing for a champion team.

“Then you have a 16-year-old boy who wins the European Championship, who becomes a world phenomenon in a very short time and suddenly you find yourself in a league that starts being Mbappe’s LaLiga and a 17-year-old boy appears who starts to play joyfully.”

Masip also compared Yamal to players like Vinicius Jrand Mbappe, known for their speed and technical abilities, saying that Yamal’s style of play and his ability to take on defenders in such an exciting way reminds fans of what Messi used to do.

“What Vinicius can do, Mbappe can do, players with that speed, with that quality… what Lamine does is something you saw in Messi, you saw something different. Can he be the best in the world? Yes, but it’s good that we keep calm,” he admitted

While he believed Yamal had the potential to become the best in the world, he urged everyone to remain calm and allow the young player to continue developing at his own pace.