Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal has dismissed suggestions that he played any role in the club’s failed summer pursuit of Nico Williams and insisted teammate Fermin Lopez never wanted to leave despite Chelsea’s late interest.
The reigning La Liga champions took a cautious approach in the transfer market, spending big only once in securing goalkeeper Joan García from Espanyol for €25 million ($29.1m).
Teenage prospect Roony Bardghji arrived for a nominal fee, registered with the reserves to comply with financial rules, while Marcus Rashford joined on loan after the collapse of the Williams deal.
Reports in Spain had claimed Yamal, who enjoys a close on-pitch relationship with Williams for the national team, was pushing Barcelona to sign his compatriot. The 18-year-old laughed off those rumors when speaking to TVE:
“I’m too young to tell anyone what to do.”
Speculation also surrounded Fermin Lopez, who was linked with a Deadline Day move to Chelsea. Yamal moved quickly to clarify the situation, stressing his teammate’s commitment:
“We’re a young and united team. I don’t think anyone wants to leave. He wanted to stay. He was happy.”
Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo echoed Yamal’s view, hailing López’s decision to remain at the club:
“We celebrate it. He’s a very important player for the group, who gives and has given us a lot, and I’m sure he’ll do so this year as well.”
Despite the blow of losing Iñigo Martínez to Al Nassr, Olmo remains optimistic about Barça’s season.
“It’s a competitive squad. We’ve had a significant loss like Iñigo’s, but good signings have arrived. It’s a world-class squad capable of competing for everything. The Champions League? We have to take it step by step, but we have the squad to go all out.”
With Yamal’s maturity shining through and Barcelona’s young core staying intact, the Blaugrana head into the season with confidence and ambition on all fronts.
