Samuel Umtiti may leave Barcelona in January. The French banker of the Catalans is in fact seriously in the picture at Benfica, which is looking for a new centre-back now that Lucas Verríssimo has seriously injured his knee. The Portuguese top club would like to take over the 27-year-old Umtiti on a rental basis for the rest of the season.
Umtiti was allowed to leave Barcelona last summer and earlier this month reported Sport that the club still wants to try to discharge him in January. Benfica may offer a way out for the 31-time French international, who has played less than a minute in all competitions this season. Verríssimo injured his knee last weekend and may not play again this season. Benfica wants to use the group match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on November 23 to open negotiations, reports the usually well-informed Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida.
Barcelona did everything they could to get rid of Umtiti last summer, but failed. After meeting with President Joan Laporta, the defender agreed to a pay cut in an ultimate bid to succeed at Barca. The now fired trainer Ronald Koeman did not see it in him and others seem to be given preference under the current trainer Xavi. The last time Umtiti was inside the lines during an official match was on May 22 against Eibar. In total, the mandekker only made sixteen appearances in all competitions last season.
According to Barcelona, the month of November is crucial to effect a departure. According to Spanish media, Umtiti has some offers from the Premier League in his pocket, albeit not from top clubs. Clubs in France and Turkey are also reportedly eager to see the 2018 world champions come. Last summer, Umtiti, whose contract runs through mid-2023, also had the option of leaving Barcelona, but turned down offers from AS Roma, OGC Nice and AS Monaco.
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