Barça Locks Down Its Future: La Masia’s Rising Duo Gets New Contracts
24 March 2026
Teaser: A veiled message from Barça's board: our talents are not for sale.
Barça Plans Major Contract Revisions for Young Duo
In the wake of Barça's recent successes under coach Hans Flick, a new wave of La Masia talents is asserting itself into the starting lineup. The club appears determined to protect its prized assets before it's too late.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club is launching a broad process to revise and improve the contracts of two standout young stars— defender Gerard Martin and midfielder Marc Bernal—so the terms reflect their current roles in Flick's project.
Gerard Martin, 24, has a top priority in this process because his current release clause stands at a relatively modest 100 million euros, a figure seen as low given his performances and importance to the team.
Barcelona had announced in January 2025 an extension to 2028, but his rapid development this season — becoming the trusted understudy to Alejandro Balde and taking every-minute-in-his-legs as Flick demands — has prompted management to reopen the file to raise his salary and revisit other clauses.
Marc Bernal, 18, signed in September 2025 a new deal through 2029, with a massive 500 million euro clause. His strong form after recovering from an ACL injury that kept him out for over a year has the club seriously considering a higher wage and adjustments to reflect his growing status as a key midfield contributor.
Profiles of the Rising Duo
Gerard Martin joined Barça from Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2023, and after a brief spell with the reserve team, he has become an integral part of the first team, praised for his discipline and rapid development.
Marc Bernal is a pure La Masia product; he joined at age six in the Benjamin category, progressed steadily until breaking into the first team before the injury, and then returned stronger to prove himself as an exceptional talent.
With this move, Barça sends a clear message: our talents are not for sale, and the club remains committed to building a competitive, long-term squad rooted in La Masia's homegrown stars.
Punchline 1: If you thought chess was hard, try following Barça contracts—knots tougher than Balde’s left foot! Punchline 2: Barca’s new motto: more renewals, fewer excuses, and yes, more tapas in the locker room for dramatic effect.
