The Barcelona center-back is finally fit after nearly six months out.
Samuel Umtiti was the welcome surprise in Ronald Koeman’s squad list ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League clash against Juventus.
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The French center-back has been out of action for nearly six months with a knee injury. The last time he played was in June in the draw against Celta Vigo.
According to Sport, it is not known yet when he will play. At the very least, he will be available off the bench. Whether he features or not will be left entirely up to Koeman.
The Frenchman took part in a friendly match with Barça B last week and reported good sensations.
His return is a welcome boost to a Barcelona backline who has been ravaged by injury. With Ronald Araujo back, the club now have three fit senior defenders alongside B player Oscar Mingueza.
His return benefits the Catalan side in two ways. The first being obvious in that the manager now has options in defense and can afford to rest Clement Lenglet.
The other benefit is if and when he does play, it will be used as a showcase, so to speak, for other teams to see that he is fit and come in for him during the winter transfer window.
He was one of the players the club were trying to move before the start of the season. They wanted to get his high salary off the books but it was that salary that scared teams off from trying to sign him.
Given Gerard Pique is going to miss nearly the entire season, if Umtiti resembles the player he was when he first joined Barcelona, then the club could very well change their minds. Simply having him back and fit, regardless, is a step in the right direction.
Do you want to see Umtiti play as a starter?