Lamine Yamal has said Barcelona will “of course” win La Liga despite their wretched run of form, adding that he expects to sign new terms at the club “soon”.
After winning Euro 2024 with Spain a day after turning 17 in July, Yamal, whose current deal runs until 2026, was hugely influential as Barca raced clear at the top of the table at the start of their first season under German manager Hansi Flick.
Four defeats and one win in seven league matches have left them five points off leaders Real Madrid and three behind Atletico Madrid, picking up a solitary point across the three league games Yamal has missed with an ankle injury.
“Barca is the club of my life,” Yamal told CNN. “I don’t know when [I’ll sign a new contract], but I believe it’ll be soon. I hope to renew my contract and be with them as long as possible. I want to play in the Spanish league. I want to renew my contract and I will.”
“I believe it will be soon.” 🙏
Lamine Yamal opens up on when he will sign his new Barcelona contract ✍️
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🎙️ @AmandaDCNN pic.twitter.com/u73IsOF0yC— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 8, 2025
Yamal Barcelona stats
Yamal’s total of nine league assists this season is three more than team-mate Raphinha, the player to have set up the next-most goals in Spain.
Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, on 13, and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, on 10, have more assists in the five major European leagues, while Yamal has also scored five times, although he has not netted since Barca’s 4-0 win at Madrid on October 26.
Barca’s record of 15 points from six games in the Champions League league phase has put them second behind Liverpool and on course for an automatic place in the knockout stage, and Yamal believes Flick’s squad can have the “best year of our lives” by winning multiple trophies during the rest of the campaign.
“Hansi is a different coach – the style of play is different,” Yamal said of the former Germany and Bayern Munich manager, who is in his first job outside of his homeland.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 8, 2025
“We’ve looked to adapt to what he’s told us and I think we’re doing it well. La Liga will be won against the teams we’ve previously lost to.
“It’s about focus; we’ve shown, in the important moments, that we are the best – and we’ll continue to do so.”
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao
Flick is hopeful that Yamal will return against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City on Wednesday (7pm GMT).
Should they win, Barca will meet Real Madrid or Mallorca at the same venue in the final on Sunday (7pm).
Their next domestic match is at home to Real Betis in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on January 15.