How Bayern Almost Stole Lamine Yamal for €5 Million – Jorge Mendes Made Sure They Couldn’t

In early 2022, Bayern Munich believed they had uncovered a rare opportunity. Lamine Yamal, then just 14 and dazzling in the youth ranks at Barcelona, had caught the eye of Bayern’s scouting network. According to multiple sources, including German outlet Bild via Christian Falk’s Transfer Insider, Bayern dispatched a delegation, sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić and technical director Marco Neppe, to Barcelona. Although their ostensible purpose was to look into Gavi, they left having also assessed Yamal. 

At that stage, Yamal was represented by Iván de la Peña, a figure quite well respected in youth football circles. Bayern reportedly discussed meeting with his parents to negotiate an eventual move once legal restrictions allowed (specifically around when he turned 16). The price discussed was around €5 million, a considerable sum for someone who had not yet made a senior appearance. 

Bayern’s idea was clever: secure a prodigious talent early and have him in your ranks as soon as regulations permitted. On paper, everything seemed possible, even likely. But soccer is rarely about what could have been; it’s about what actually happens.

Jorge Mendes Enters the Picture: Turning the Tide

Change came when Yamal’s representation changed. Jorge Mendes, one of the most powerful agents in world football, took over from de la Peña. Sources say this shift disrupted Bayern’s plans entirely. Mendes reportedly raised the stakes, insisting on the €5 million figure but at the same time convincing Yamal’s family that staying at Barcelona was in the young winger’s best interest. 

By this time, the legal and regulatory frameworks were working against Bayern. FIFA rules meant that Yamal could not officially move to another country before turning 16, which would be July 2023. In effect, Bayern would have had to wait. Mendes’ involvement made sure that Barcelona remained in the driving seat during that waiting period. 

While Bayern may have believed they were laying the foundation of a transfer, Mendes and Barcelona were taking concrete steps to lock Yamal in. One of those steps was giving him his senior debut earlier than expected. In April 2023 he made that breakthrough under Xavi. That debut was critical. Once Yamal was established in Barcelona’s first team, and especially after a new contract was signed, any move, even one conceived earlier, became almost impossible. 

What Bayern Lost, Barcelona Gained

Millions for a 14- or 15-year-old may seem speculative, but in modern football, those are risks many big clubs take. Bayern came to believe the deal was theirs. They believed Yamal’s family was open to the move, de la Peña seemed cooperative, and scouts and directors were fully convinced. And yet, once Mendes inserted himself into the equation, the balance shifted. 

Barcelona acted fast. After Yamal’s debut, they extended his contract and inserted a huge release clause, reportedly nearly €1 billion, into that deal. Whatever the Bundesliga giants might have offered or believed they had lined up, that clause and Barcelona’s urgency made future attempts prohibitively expensive. 

Today, Yamal is not just a youth prospect. He is an international star, European champion with Spain, Golden Boy winner, La Liga regular, and a core player for Barcelona’s future. Bayern, meanwhile, are left with a “what if”, a deal they nearly had, for a price that now seems almost unbelievable for what Yamal has already become. 

Lessons, Regret, Modern Transfer Truths