Barcelona officials have confirmed to Mundo Deportivo that neither theirs nor Samuel Umtiti’s representative’s efforts to find the player a team has worked.
The Spanish outlet has reported that Barça and Umtiti’s representatives have failed to find a team for the Frenchman this summer. Umtiti, 28, is looking to leave Camp Nou, having seen in playing time reduced drastically.
Umtiti has fallen down the pecking order under Xavi and is unlikely to have any significant role to play next season if he stays at Barca beyond this summer.
The centre-back made only a solitary appearance last term. Though he was injured for most of last season, it is part of the reason the Blaugrana want to part ways with the defender.
The source has reported that a return to Lyon is still a viable option for Umtiti. His former club have not closed the door on his return and Lyon’s president Jean Michel Aulas is said to be in regular contact with the player’s representatives. An option to play for Ligue 1 side Nice is also on the table. Umtiti is open to a further salary reduction if it meant more game time.
The 2018 World Cup winner is contracted to Barcelona until 2026. The club have been trying to offload him since last summer but talks with Lyon broke down on financial and sporting grounds. This time around, the outcome could be different.
GSFN
