By George Aluo
Samuel Umtiti may not be one of the “hotcake players” in Barcelona’s Camp Nou at the moment, but the Catalan giants are not ready to let him go without reaping a financial windfall out of his exit.
News coming out of the team indicates that Umtiti, who last year won the World Cup with France in Russia, would only be sold if his suitors are ready to cough out a whopping 77 million pounds (about N38bn).
The English Premiership duo of Arsenal and Manchester United are topping the long list of clubs that are interested in the signature of the 25-year-old defender.
It would be noted that Umtiti has dropped down the pecking order at the Nou Camp this season with Clement Lenglet, cementing his place in Ernesto Valverde’s central defence alongside Gerard Pique.
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The Catalan giants are also in advanced discussions with Ajax to land Matthijs de Ligt, further fueling rumours of Umtiti’s imminent departure. Manchester United have previously been linked with Umtiti and Arsenal have also emerged, as a serious contender.
Arsenal’s director of football, Raul Sanllehi, was at the heart of Barca’s negotiations for Umtiti back in 2016 and the Spaniard could play a key role in the Gunners’ bid for the World Cup-winner this summer.
Barca’s concerns about Umtiti’s persistent knee injuries combined with their need to raise funds for De Ligt makes a summer move very likely. He played through significant knee pain at the World Cup last summer and has also turned down surgery on two occasions. Last week on French television, Umtiti, however, refused to be drawn into speculation, linking him with a move away from Barca.
