La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are contemplating terminating the contracts of out-of-favour stars Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona might have to consider taking drastic action if transfer-listed players do not depart from Camp Nou anytime soon. The Catalan giants are contemplating terminating the contracts of Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite, with the duo hardly attracting any suitors.
Samuel Umtiti has been with Barcelona for six years. The French defender arrived at Camp Nou in July 2016 and had a lot of hype surrounding him in the aftermath of a solid 2015/16 season with Lyon. The player’s reputation was soaring at the time as he had also established a foothold in the French national team.
Umtiti took no time to become a mainstay at the back for Barcelona, forging a solid central defensive partnership with Gerard Pique. The 28-year-old was also the first-choice centre-back for France when Les Bleus won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. But that was as good as it got for Umtiti in his career, with his stock constantly plummeting in the last four years.
Fitness issues and poor form have plagued Umtiti during this period, and he is now rock-bottom in the pecking order for centre-backs in the Barcelona first-team squad. And the Catalan giants are desperate to cut their losses on the Frenchman this summer. Umtiti also seemed close to leaving Barcelona, with a move to Stade Rennais previously believed to be on the horizon.
But Rennes ended interest in the out-of-favour Barcelona defender last week due to his worrisome fitness record. So Umtiti is now in the lurch over his long-term future, with no other club pursuing him. On the other hand, Martin Braithwaite has been with Barcelona for two and a half years.
The Dane arrived at Camp Nou as an emergency signing after the January transfer window shut down in 2020. And Braithwaite has been a reliable backup option for the Blaugrana during his ongoing stint. However, after barely featuring for Barcelona last season, Braithwaite is surplus to requirements.
The 31-year-old has attracted interest from clubs outside Spain, but he wants to remain at Camp Nou beyond the summer transfer window. However, with Robert Lewandowski closing in on joining Barcelona, there is no spot for Braithwaite. With Umtiti not attracting enough interest and Braithwaite unwilling to leave Barcelona, the Catalan giants are considering taking drastic action.
Barcelona could terminate the contracts of the two out-of-favour stars to get them off their books. The Blaugrana might also allow Neto to leave as a free agent amid interest from Celta Vigo. But the futures of Umtiti and Braithwaite particularly pose problems for Barcelona this summer as they look to continue their squad overhaul under Xavi Hernandez.
