Samuel Umtiti is struggling with his current situation at Barcelona. The 27-year-old defender gives in conversation with Mundo Deportivo admitted to having cried over the whistles of the club’s supporters. Yet Umtiti does not intend to leave coach Ronald Koeman’s club. “Unthinkable. I don’t see myself playing for another club and I see myself becoming successful here,” said the Frenchman.
Barcelona supporters blame Umtiti for not leaving the club on a free transfer last summer after the financially ailing club president Joan Laporta asked him to. The fans therefore seem to hold the defender partly responsible for the fact that the Catalans could no longer afford Lionel Messi. The Argentine star player traded Barcelona finally after a period of 21 years on a free transfer for Paris Saint-Germain.
Umtiti indicates that the whistling meant a lot to him. “It hurt a lot. I have often felt alone and did not anticipate that this would happen at the club I love,” said the centre-back, who came over from Olympique Lyon in 2016 for a maximum of 30 million euros. He says he is currently going through a difficult time, but also acknowledges that he knew the chances of playing time were going to get tougher with six centre-backs. “The coach makes the choices and I have to show him that I am good enough to play.” Umtiti, who is committed until mid-2023, has played less than a minute for Barcelona this season.
Still, he says he is determined to fight for his place. “I’ve had some difficult moments with injuries, but I feel better mentally now. I’m happy, but I want to play and help the team.” Umtiti is therefore keen to succeed at the current number seven in LaLiga. “Football is my life and Barcelona is my life. I want to be successful here. If I have something on my mind and I’m sure I’m good enough, I’ll keep trying to prove it.”
After the 2018 World Cup, Umtiti struggled with a lingering knee injury, which kept him sidelined for a long time. After that, doubts remained about his fitness in Barcelona, but the defender feels completely fine physically. “I feel very good and I really want to play,” he says. “I only miss match rhythm, but I am stronger and faster than ever before. When a report leaked out this summer saying that I was no longer physically suitable for top football, it touched me. I was working hard to get fit and then all of a sudden those lies came out.”