Barcelona suffer a huge setback ahead of the summer transfer window.
Barcelona are planning a major revamp in the summer to comeback from what’s most likely going to be a season without silverware for them. While they have planned and kept their eyes on several players, the Catalans are also hopeful that they will manage to offload those who occupy a sizeable wage in order to balance the club’s accounts.
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Samuel Umtiti is among those who was imminently going to be shown the door. The France international did not have any suitors since talks of his departure started circulating which in itself was a complicated prospect for the Blaugrana. However, the player has now decided against leaving the club even if there’s an offer and will fulfil his contract, per El Desmarque.
Umtiti’s injury issues have been a constant pain for the club since the last couple of years and despite being given sufficient time, his fitness issues seem to have no respite. A potentially long-term solution for the club’s central defender’s role back in the day has now turned into nothing short of a liability who is refusing to make way.
Umtiti has been out of the fray since a year at least.
Ernesto Valverde and Quique Setien have both not used the player too often this season. Umtiti’s chances in the first-team have been numbered and have affected his future with the French national team as well. Having already lost his spot beside Gerard Pique to Clement Lenglet, Ronald Araujo is also convincing his manager to hand him minutes.
A few months ago, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain were keeping tabs on the former Olympique Lyon man but he seems to be in control of his own future now. With a contract until June 2023 and an annual wage of 12 million euros being paid to the 26-year-old, it’s unlikely that the La Liga giants will be able to afford anyone with him on their roster.
Do you think Umtiti will have his chances should the player’s fitness remain intact?