Barcelona has confirmed on their official website that their centre-back Samuel Umtiti has sustained a bruised knee during a training session with his team. The La Liga club released a statement ahead of their 2-1 win over Slavia Praha in the UEFA Champions League in midweek which read,
“In the final part of the session on Tuesday at the Ciutat Esportiva Samuel Umtiti picked up a bruised knee and so the French central defender misses the trip to take on Slavia Prague.”
Umtiti’s Injury-Prone Year At Catalonia
The French defender was coming back from a long injury layoff and was slowly working his way back to full fitness. Therefore, suffering another injury will be a bitter pill to swallow for the French defender. He is now a major doubt for Barca’s upcoming encounter against Real Valladolid next week.
The 25-year-old sealed a move to the Nou Camp from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2016. He has gone on to play in 99 matches for the Catalan giants, scoring two goals in the process. Umtiti made his first appearance of the season against Eibar last weekend. On the defensive end, he averaged 0.6 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.9 clearances per game in the La Liga last season (stats via whoscored).
The Yaounde-born defender has also represented France in 31 international fixtures and has four goals to his name for his nation.
What Does The French Defensive Ace Offer On The Pitch?
When playing with confidence on the field, Umtiti can be a world-class defender for Barca, but injuries have derailed his progress at the Nou Camp over the past couple of years. The French talent is a powerhouse in defence due to his towering presence and remarkable strength. He can win a lot of headers and is an excellent tackler of the ball which makes him a household name in European football.
Umtiti Sustains A Bruised Knee: Big Blow For The Catalan Outfit?
As long as Umtiti can stay injury-free, he has a bright career at Barcelona. However, there is no denying that his latest injury setback will be a massive blow for Ernesto Valverde as he cannot afford to lose one of his premier defenders and keep fighting across all fronts in search of silverware.
If Umtiti fails to prove his fitness this season, then it might be time for Barca to move him on as they cannot expect to win the UEFA Champions League without a world-renowned centre-back protecting their backline.
