- Jorge Mendes was questioned about a potential contract extension for Lamine Yamal
- The 17-year-old superstar will be a free agent in the summer of 2026
- Yamal is grossly underpaid compared to his senior teammates
Super agent Jorge Mendes has revealed that Lamine Yamal will "of course" sign a new deal with Barcelona.
Yamal was not alive for the release of the first iPhone but has already established himself as Barcelona's technical leader. The heir to Lionel Messi's throne - according to the Argentine himself - has directly contributed to 17 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions already this season.
Over the summer, when Yamal was celebrating his 17th birthday and winning Euro 2024, he was the subject of extensive interest from Paris Saint-Germain. As subsequently confirmed, Barcelona received a world record-shattering offer of €250m (£207m) from the French champions during the tournament.
Barcelona bluntly refused the extraordinary bid, which was not PSG's first attempt to lure Yamal away from Catalonia.
Yamal's current contract only runs until the summer of 2026, but does boast a buyout clause €1bn ((£829m) - a figure which even PSG will struggle to meet. However, talks have been ongoing over a new deal with a fresh salary to reflect the forward's lofty status within the squad.
When quizzed on the subject this week, Yamal's agent Jorge Mendes declared: "Yes, of course Lamine Yamal will sign new deal at Barcelona," as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. "It's gonna happen."
Current estimates suggest that Yamal earns a relatively modest weekly wage of around €32,000 (£26,000). That figure is thought to be comparable to Barcelona's other academy graduates who are yet to sign new terms, but pales in comparison to most other senior members of the squad. Even Pau Cubarsi, who still bunks up in the club's La Masia accommodation, earns more than twice as much as Yamal.
The teenager will have some unwanted time on the sidelines to focus on contractual negotiations. Barcelona could be without Yamal for as long as a month after he damaged his ankle during Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Leganes. After a dire run of form - most of which has taken place in Yamal's absence - Barcelona's lead at La Liga's summit has vanished.
