How Lamine Yamal stopped Barcelona from pursuing 17-year-old Chelsea-bound sensation

Barcelona were recently heavily linked with a rising Brazilian star, Estevao Willian. The 17-year-old caught the attention of several top European clubs with his impressive performances in Brazil, gaining interest due to his consistency on the field. 

Despite the rumours, though, Barcelona never made an official move for him, and this decision seems to have stemmed from the club’s focus on developing their own young talent, Lamine Yamal, reports Fabrizio Romano.

“Chelsea were one of several clubs interested in Estevao, but in reality, all of the top European clubs were very attentive to his situation,” Romano said (h/t Caught Offside).

“He was on Barcelona’s list for example, and they wanted him before Lamine Yamal started to show what an exceptional talent he is.

Decision paid off

Barcelona’s management had confidence in Yamal’s potential and chose to prioritise his growth over pursuing Estevao and this choice seems to have paid off. 

While Barcelona considered Estevao, they ultimately decided to stick with Yamal, who has already become a key player for the team this season.

Barcelona decided to bank on Lamine Yamal instead of Estevao. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

His early impact has been remarkable, with Yamal contributing either a goal or an assist in every match he has featured in so far.

Estevao’s future, however, was sealed when Chelsea announced in June that they had secured his services. He is set to officially join the club in the summer of 2025, once he turns 18. 

The deal is reported to be worth €34 million, with an additional €23 million in performance-related bonuses.

Meanwhile, despite Barcelona’s initial interest in the Brazilian, their decision to trust Yamal’s talent has yielded impressive results.

In just seven matches this season, the young forward has scored four goals and provided five assists, making a significant impact in the early stages of his development.

Barcelona’s gamble on nurturing their own talent instead of signing Estevao appears to be paying off handsomely, proving that trusting in youth can sometimes be the best option.