Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is said to have personally called Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti, in order to convince him to move to Old Trafford in the summer.
According to a report in Spanish publication Sport, negotiations over a new contract aren’t going well between Barcelona and Samuel Umtiti as the Catalan giants are unwilling to meet the Frenchman’s demand of increasing his wages to €9 million per year.
Due to this disagreement, Umtiti is reportedly considering a move away from Barcelona and according to the report, he has no shortage of offers. With a release clause said to be a mere €60 million, he can very easily be afforded by numerous other European clubs, one among whom are Manchester United.
The Red Devils have been constantly linked with a the French international. Earlier this month it was reported that Umtiti had even agreed personal terms with Manchester United and if Barcelona don’t meet his demands, the Frenchman may very well be heading to Old Trafford in the summer.
The report further goes on the say that he is a player that Jose Mourinho personally got in touch with to offer him a deal which is worth €9 million per year. His trivial €60 million release clause would also make him an even more appealing target for Manchester United in this inflated market.
Why Barcelona aren’t agreeing to increase Umtiti’s wages to the same level as that of Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez is baffling, given his importance to the club. Over the course of the past two seasons, Umtiti has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the world and arguably the best defender at the Nou Camp.
However, Manchester United will certainly hope Barcelona remain stubborn with this stance as acquiring Umtiti in the summer would certainly help them bolster their own squad and help them solve some the defensive issues that have crept up in recent weeks.
Victor Lindelof hasn’t been able to live up to his €45 million price tag in his first season at the club, while Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are edging toward a move away from the club in the summer. That leaves Manchester United manager Mourinho with Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo.
Needless to say, defensive reinforcements are needed and Samuel Umtiti has shown all the attributes he needs to succeed in the English top flight. Losing a player of his quality and potential could prove costly for Barcelona if they don’t get a replacement and it remains to be seen if next season, their loss becomes Manchester United’s gain.
