Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti could reportedly be on his way back to former club Olympique Lyon this summer with a €10 million offer made.
According to a report from Spanish publication Fichajes, Samuel Umtiti’s ordeal at Barcelona may finally be coming to an end. The French centre-back, who has struggled with form and fitness for the past couple of years, could be set for a way out this summer, with Ligue 1 outfit Olympique Lyon emerging as a destination.
Umtiti came through the youth ranks at Lyon and was a first-team regular at the club before making the switch to Barcelona in the summer of 2016. While the Frenchman enjoyed an impressive debut season at the Catalan outfit, he has never been able to reach the same heights after he a serious knee injury he sustained.
As a result, Umtiti has slowly been phased out of the starting XI at Camp Nou, with compatriot Clement Lenglet first taking over as Gerard Pique’s partner at the back while youngsters like Ronald Araujo and Oscar Mingueza also crept ahead of him in the pecking order this past season. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner featured just 16 times in all competitions during the 2020/21 campaign.
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With Barcelona also signing Eric Garcia this summer and looking for another central defender, the 27-year-old’s time with the club was almost certain to be coming to an end. Indeed, Umtiti has been put up for sale by the Blaugrana this summer and it seems like his boyhood club Lyon are willing to offer him an escape route from his ordeal in Catalonia.
Umtiti has previously spoken about his desire to return to Les Gones when his contract with Barcelona expired. And even though he still has two years left on his deal with the Cules, the Frenchman could be set to go back to his old stomping grounds. Indeed, the report mentions that Lyon have already lodged an offer of €10 million to secure his services from the Catalan giants.
Barcelona, for their part, are happy to accept whatever they get for the 27-year-old as Joan Laporta remains intent on clearing the wage bill at the club. Nevertheless, the club will wait to see if there are any better offers that come along for the French centre-back, with Lyon unlikely to up their current bid. Should there be nothing else forthcoming, there is a good chance that Umtiti returns to the Ligue 1 outfit before the next season starts.
