Barça is absolutely certain that Lamine Yamal is the player on whom the club's long-term project will be built. The winger has shown impressive football maturity in a very short time, and his impact on the first team has been so great that the sporting management hasn't hesitated. He has already been given the legendary number 10 jersey and has been renewed until 2031.
This move isn't just symbolic. With Yamal, Barça aims to recover the essence of its youth academy as the core of the sporting project, just as happened in the golden era with names like Messi. Lamine is the cornerstone of the present and the future, and the club is convinced that he will be one of the great figures in world soccer in the coming years.
Surrounding Lamine
Aware of his value and potential, Barça also knows that it needs to surround Lamine Yamal with top-level talent. It's not enough to have the brightest gem; a structure must be built around him to enhance, protect, and support him in his development. In this regard, the club has already marked the summer of 2026 as a key date in its planning.
That will be the time to sign a new world-class center forward who can take over from Robert Lewandowski. The Pole's contract ends in 2026, and the sporting management wants to reach that date with a star signing to complement Lamine in attack.
Alexander Isak and Julián Álvarez, the main targets
At the moment, Barça is working with two names on the table to fill that number 9 role starting in 2026: Alexander Isak and Julián Álvarez. The Swede from Newcastle has shown in the Premier League that he has quality, goal-scoring ability, and spectacular potential. Meanwhile, Julián Álvarez, who is now the big star at Atlético de Madrid after his transfer from Manchester City, is a complete player.
Both fit the profile Barça is looking for: young, already established at the top level, but with room for growth. In addition, both have character, personality, and international experience. They are considered ideal options not only for their technical qualities but also for their mentality and ability to lead a project.
A golden tandem
However, signing either of them won't be an easy or cheap task. Both Isak and Álvarez have high prices and their respective clubs won't be willing to let them go. The estimated cost of any of these operations would exceed 100 million.
However, Barça is willing to make a significant effort if it means forming a dream forward line with Lamine Yamal as the absolute star. For that, the summer of 2026 will be decisive.