In a recent report, Sport stated that Barcelona are running out of patience with Samuel Umtiti as the player is still refusing to seal a move away from the club this summer. It is believed that the Catalan giants are threatening to sack the French centre-back by terminating his contract as they are in dire need of reducing their wage bill in this summer transfer period.
Umtiti’s Fall From Grace At The Nou Camp Recently
Umtiti experienced an injury-ravaged campaign at Catalonia last season as a serious knee injury kept him sidelined for a lot of key games over the 12 months. The 27-year-old made just 16 appearances for Barca in the previous campaign, earning two yellow cards in the process across all competitions.
Most of Umtiti’s playing time came off the bench which goes to show why he could only average 0.4 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, and 1.1 clearances per game in La Liga last season. At least, he was exceptional when distributing possession from inside his half, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 93.8% in the Spanish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
The Yaunde-born defensive ace needs to make a fresh start if he wants to re-establish himself as a top defender in European football. However, his poor injury record in recent seasons could be why Barca are struggling to sell him this summer as most teams have every reason to be concerned about his long-term worth as a footballer.
Should Barca Get Rid Of Umtiti This Summer?
Umtiti can be a solid defender when he is playing regularly on the pitch. However, frequent injuries have hampered his growth at the Nou Camp in recent years. On his day, the French centre-back can be a reliable presence at the back as he is often quick to react to the danger and can snatch the ball back for his team.
The 31-time France international is even proficient at clearing the danger when the opposition are on the front foot. Umtiti hardly gives away the ball but needs to overcome his injury problems if he intends to be a success story at the highest level. He has still got two years left to run in his current contract at the Nou Camp.
However, Barca have got no choice but to get rid of him either by finding a new buyer before the end of this transfer window or terminating his contract with immediate effect which could have legal repercussions in the future. Either way, Ronald Koeman has to figure out a way to move Umtiti on as he is clearly an unsettled player who could disrupt the chemistry of his Barcelona squad.
