Lamine Yamal has said that Barcelona will “of course” win La Liga despite their poor 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 contract runs until 2026, has been hugely influential as Barca race clear at the top of the table at the start of his first season under the German manager Hansi Flick.
Four defeats and one win in seven league games left them five points behind leaders Real Madrid and three behind Atletico Madrid, picking up the only point from the three league games Yamal 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 will be soon. I hope to renew the contract and be with them as long as possible. I want to play in the Spanish league. I want to renew the contract and I will.”
“I believe it will be soon.” 🙏
Lamine Yamal revealed when he will sign his new contract with Barcelona ✍️
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🎙️ @AmandaDCNN pic.twitter.com/u73IsOF0yC— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 8, 2025
Yamal Barcelona statistics
Yamal’s total of nine league assists this season are three more than his team-mate Raphinha, the next highest goalscorer in Spain.
Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah with 13 and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka with 10 have more assists in Europe’s top five leagues, while Yamal has also scored five times, although he has not scored since. Barca’s 4-0 win in Madrid on October 26.
Barca’s record 15 points from six games in the Champions League stage it put them second behind Liverpool and on course for an automatic place in the knockout stages, and Yamal believes Flick’s side can have “the best year of their lives” by winning more trophies during the rest of the campaign.
“Hansi is a different coach – it’s a different style of play,” Yamal said of the former Germany and Bayern Munich coach, who is in his first job outside his homeland.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 8, 2025
“We tried to adapt to what he told us and I think we are doing well. La Liga will be won against teams that we have previously lost to.
“It’s about focus; we have shown, in important moments, that we are the best – and we will continue to do so.”
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao
Flick hopes Yamal will return against Athletic Bilbao in Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Jeddah at King Abdullah Sports City on Wednesday (19:00 GMT).
In case of victory, Barca will face Real Madrid or Mallorca in the final on Sunday (19:00) at the same place.
Their next home game is at home to Real Betis in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey on January 15.
