It cost PSG 222 million to get Neymar from Barça in 2017. Now they want to repeat history by bringing in the star of the moment, Lamine Yamal. Money is not a problem: they have 300 million ready.
There was nothing to negotiate with Neymar. PSG paid every last euro of his release clause. With Lamine Yamal, negotiating will be necessary.
PSG Needs a Top Replacement for Mbappé
His release clause is valued at 1.1 billion euros and his contract ends in 2026. Laporta, however, has agreed with his agent, Jorge Mendes, to renegotiate the contract this summer, when Lamine Yamal turns 18 and comes of age.
PSG is not giving up. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is taking the loss of his star player, Kylian Mbappé, very badly.
They opted for Luis Enrique to form a solid team after the departures of Messi, Neymar and Mbappé. The results are not good, however.
After the defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and the draw at the Parc des Princes against PSV, PSG has entered a crisis. Its qualification for the next round of the Champions League is seriously under threat.
The Same Tactic as Florentino's with Mbappé
The situation is dramatic and Al-Khelaïfi believes that, for great evils, great remedies are needed. He hasn't found a better remedy on the market than Lamine Yamal.
PSG is aware of the delicate financial situation that FC Barcelona is going through. It's also aware that the entry of 300 million into its coffers would solve a good part of its problems.
They are convinced that Barça will end up succumbing to the millionaire offer. However, the tactics that PSG are following are identical to those shown by Florentino Pérez with Mbappé.
The aim is to seduce the player and convince him of the advantages of signing for PSG. To do this, PSG is counting on the good relationship between Jorge Mendes, the player's agent, and Luis Campos, PSG's sporting director.
If Laporta fired Messi Out of Money, will He Also Fire Lamine Yamal?
Barça is not a concern. If Laporta was able to fire Messi out of financial reasons, he'll be able to repeat his actions with Lamine Yamal for the same reason.
But the confidence with which Parisians view the operation has little to do with reality. Neither Laporta will agree to negotiate, nor Lamine Yamal will leave Barça at 18. What will happen when he becomes over 20 and close to 25 is a different story.
Lamine's Price will Skyrocket
Although PSG doesn't have money problems, even the Emir of Qatar would refuse to pay 1.1 billion for a 17-year-old boy. Only by paying that clause would Barça allow the departure of its star.
He would be the ideal replacement for Mbappé; but this time PSG won't have it as easy as when they took Neymar. PSG can, however, achieve one thing: increase the player's salary so that his maintenance becomes unsustainable for Barça, as happened with Messi.