Lamine Yamal is Barcelona’s No. 10 now, a kid whose talent has pushed him right into the spotlight of European soccer. It feels like the natural path for someone of his ability, but things could have turned out very differently.
According to German outlet Bild, back in 2022, before he had even stepped on the field with the first team, Yamal was close to joining Bayern Munich. The German side moved early, tried to get his family on board, but two things stood in the way: a switch of agents and, later, his unexpected debut.
German interest that fell apart
Bayern spotted Yamal when he was just 14. Hasan Salihamidzic, who was the sporting director at the time, even flew to Madrid to sit down with Ivan de la Peña, then his agent and also the man behind Gavi’s career. The plan was simple: line up a future transfer as soon as FIFA rules allowed, which meant once Yamal turned 16. Bayern even made an effort to get close to his family, hoping it would give them an edge when the moment came.
But the situation shifted once Yamal changed representation. De la Peña stepped aside and Jorge Mendes took over. Mendes made it clear that any deal would need to be worth at least €5 million, despite Yamal not yet playing a single professional game. For Bayern, it felt like too much of a gamble. The club hesitated, waited, and while they paused, Yamal himself made the choice that ended the talks.
The debut that decided it all
On April 29, 2023, just six weeks before his 16th birthday, Yamal finally debuted for Barcelona in La Liga. The detail that made the night even more striking is that he came on for Gavi, another player Bayern had once set their sights on. That moment changed the entire story. Instead of holding off and leaving the door open for a move, the teenager showed on the field that he was ready to wear Barça’s shirt. From there, the possibility of leaving no longer made sense.
A few months later, in October, Barcelona locked things down. The club handed Yamal a three-year contract with a €1 billion release clause. The figure wasn’t just about money, it was about protection— Barça had no intention of letting their biggest prospect slip away.
Bayern’s missed chance and Barcelona’s win
In Munich, the feeling is clear: Bayern let a rare opportunity pass. They came close, but when it came time to commit, they stepped back. In Barcelona, the mood couldn’t be more different. Fans quickly embraced Yamal, and seeing him take the No. 10 shirt only reinforced the belief that he belongs at the heart of the team.
Bayern, usually sharp when it comes to spotting and signing young talent, got cold feet and paid for it. Barcelona, on the other hand, secured their player and may have found someone capable of leading a new era. And Yamal, still at the very beginning of his career, is already proving that some talents are simply worth whatever it takes.