Samuel Umtiti appeared to be heading for the exit from Barcelona this summer, but the 27-year-old defender is still under contract against all odds. Umtiti vehemently opposed a forced departure and did not even want to leave on a free transfer, even if he would receive an annual salary. Mundo Deportivo shed a different light on the situation of Umtiti on Saturday, who has been accused by many Barcelona fans of not wanting to leave just because he is on the payroll for €12 million gross.
Umtiti informed the board at all times that he wanted to extend his contract with Barcelona until mid-2023. He even asked for a meeting with the top of the club and so it happened in mid-August. President Joan Laporta, vice president Rafa Yuste and technical director Mateu Alemany listened carefully to the defender’s story, the Catalan sports newspaper looks back. Laporta immediately gave the Frenchman the thumbs up, pointing out that despite losing his starting spot and having barely played since 2018, he still wanted to stay at Barcelona, especially after hearing personally from Ronald Koeman that he would not be in. the future plans.
However, Umtiti made no bones about it, pointing out that Barcelona’s medical staff had been unable to figure out the hows and whys of his injury and that the proposed meniscus surgery posed a risk to his knee. A risk he did not want to take, the defender indicated. Umtiti went on to explain that he had looked for and found suitable treatment himself and that his physical progress had since made leaps and bounds, based on Ramón Cugat’s examinations and tests. The highly renowned knee specialist is also often used by Barcelona itself.
Mundo Deportivo writes that Laporta, Yuste and Alemany listened carefully to his story and that the chairman finally said that he believed the defender, that he believed he deserved a chance and that the club may have fallen short when the Frenchman needed help . That was when Umtiti burst into tears, according to the daily, given the tension at the start of the meeting plus the fact that someone eventually wanted to believe his story. According to Mundo Deportivo Laporta indicated that he would talk to Koeman to ensure he needs to be more understanding of the defender’s situation.
The question is whether Koeman will actually call on Umtiti, as he has Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo and Clément Lenglet. If necessary, Frenkie de Jong can also play centrally in the back. Umtiti has been struggling with left knee complaints for three years and apparently only got playing time last season because Koeman often had no alternatives. His performance against Granada did not improve his situation. A win could have brought Koeman’s team to the top of LaLiga, but two missteps by the Frenchman ended the game in a 1-2 loss, after which the decline started. Umtiti has played less than a minute for the Catalans this season.