'He is a genius' - Barcelona president Joan Laporta lauds Lamine Yamal

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has lauded talented youngster Lamine Yamal as the Catalans sought to tie him down on a professional contract once he turns 18 years old.

Barcelona will seek to ease any contract fears surrounding Yamal, with the 17-year-old “genius” ready to follow in the footsteps of club legend Lionel Messi.

The Blaugrana are expected to tie down the highly talented La Masia gem to a long-term contract as he approaches his 18th birthday – with paperwork reportedly prepared for the next “magician” for the Spanish giants.

The 17-year-old prodigy has been following in Messi’s illustrious footsteps since stepping out of the La Masia academy system in Catalunya.

The record-breaking youngster is already a European Championship winner with two La Liga titles to his name.

Yamal is considered to have become one of the best players on the planet currently, earning comparisons to Lionel Messi and Ballon d’Or recognition. Despite his rapid rise to stardom, questions about his long-term future keep popping up.

Lamine Yamal on Lionel Messi — Lamine Yamal has 13 goals and 19 assists for Barcelona this season

Yamal’s contract with Barcelona is reportedly set to expire in 2026, and the La Liga winners are thought to be keen to bring that debate to a close, with Spain international ready to sign a lucrative senior contract once he turns 18 in July.

All documents are said to be ready to be signed, and club president Laporta is confident that another homegrown star will emulate Messi by shutting down any interest from elsewhere.

Blaugrana president Laporta told La Vanguardia of Yamal: “He is a genius who enjoys Barca, who has friends at Barca and who, in addition, is part of this generation that has lived with his team-mates a lot.

“He is a player of superlative individual talent, but he is also a team player and he is comfortable.

“He also has an agent, Jorge Mendes, with whom we have easy communication. His renewal is practically already agreed, it only requires its ratification.

“At Barca we pay players to the right extent of their abilities. We are a club that pays well. We also say that there is nowhere better than Barca.

“Another thing is the analysis that they can’t all play in the same team and you can’t have all the good players in the world. And that’s where the key to the team lies.

“Lamine is a player who can succeed anywhere. We know. It happened to me with Leo Messi, who Inter wanted. And we ended up deciding together, including Leo’s father, that Barca would have the best project.

“And so it has been because he became the best in history. Lamine, at 17 years old, is one of the best in the world. He is comfortable and so is his family.”