Real Madrid have reportedly joined the race to sign Samuel Umtiti, with the Barcelona defender also a summer target for Manchester United.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Diario Gol, Real Madrid have emerged as shock suitors for Samuel Umtiti, whose future at Barcelona is under a cloud. The French defender is also being tailed by Manchester United for a move in the summer transfer window.
Umtiti joined Barcelona from Lyon in the summer of 2016 and took no time to establish himself as a regular in the first-team setup at Camp Nou. His progress at the Catalan club has been so remarkable that the player is now one of the first names on the team sheet under Ernesto Valverde.
This season, the French international has started every game when fit – 33 in all – and his influence has been palpable in the games that he has missed, with Barcelona posing a vulnerable look at the back. But, while Umtiti is now a vital cog at Camp Nou, his future at the club is uncertain, with Manchester United and now, Real Madrid plotting summer moves.
Umtiti is at loggerheads with Barcelona over the terms of his current deal and is demanding a hike in his wages in order to remain at the club. The Blaugrana, meanwhile, are also sweating over his €60 million release clause, a value that has piqued the interest of Manchester United and Real Madrid.
At Manchester United, Jose Mourinho has been dismayed by his side’s poor defensive performances of late. Reports have suggested that some of the central defenders are facing the chopping block, with only Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo safe from the axe.
Victor Lindelof might get another season to prove his mettle, considering he only joined last summer. But, bolstering the backline seems to be a priority for the Manchester United boss, making Umtiti a viable target. Real Madrid though, have now joined the race to sign him.
At the Bernabeu, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane are the first-choice central defensive partnership. But, Varane’s future at Real Madrid is uncertain, with Manchester United coincidentally among those that are attempting to sign him.
Beyond Varane and Ramos, Jesus Vallejo hasn’t exactly set the stage alight since returning from loan last summer while Nacho is considered as more of a backup. Umtiti is, thus, an ideal target for Real Madrid. Ramos himself has taken it upon himself to persuade the Frenchman to make the switch to the Bernabeu in the summer.
Fiorentino Perez is ready to pull out all the stops to land Umtiti as well, with his €60 million release clause a paltry sum in the current state of the transfer market. A big hurdle in their way is the fact that Manchester United have already floated an offer worth €9 million-a-year to the player, which Real Madrid will have to match or exceed.
Barcelona seem unwilling to offer Umtiti similar terms, which would see him rank among the highest paid players at the club. The ball, thus, seems to be in the courts of Manchester United and Real Madrid, with the player open to a move away from Camp Nou as well.
