Barcelona have reached an agreement with Samuel Umtiti to terminate the remaining two years of his contract.
Umtiti arrived at Barcelona in 2016, following a €25 million move from Lyon. He was one of the most promising and exciting players when he joined the Catalan club.
The Frenchman quickly established himself as a regular starter alongside Gerard Pique, usurping Javier Mascherano.
However, a series of knee injuries following his World Cup victory with France in 2018 derailed his progress at the club.
Despite signing a contract extension with Barcelona to ease their financial burden and facilitate player registrations, Umtiti’s playing time diminished.
Over the past four seasons, he made only 50 appearances, a stark contrast to his initial two campaigns with the club.
Umtiti spent last season on loan with Italian club Lecce, where he aimed to rejuvenate his career.
His loan spell in Italy with Lecce proved relatively successful, as he made 25 appearances and contributed to the team’s survival in Serie A.
However, his performances were not enough to reignite the interest of Barcelona’s management.
The La Liga champions now have an array of centre-backs, including Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia.
Barca have also signed Inigo Martinez on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao.
The club seems eager to reshape its defensive options and create space for new talent.
While the club has settled Umtiti’s departure, the future of fellow defender Clement Lenglet remains uncertain.
Lenglet spent the previous season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur. They expect him to return to the club, but his future is unclear.
