Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti is reportedly back on the radars of Portuguese giants SL Benfica, who were interested in him in January.
According to Fichajes, SL Benfica have revived their interest in signing Barcelona outcast Samuel Umtiti ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
Umtiti signed for Barcelona from French club Lyon in 2016 in a deal worth €25 million. The 28-year-old enjoyed a solid couple of seasons early in his tenure at Camp Nou. But it has all gone downhill for him since then, as recurring injury problems have rendered him completely out of favour at the club.
Barcelona desperately tried to offload him in the summer transfer window last year, but their efforts proved futile as Umtiti stayed put. However, it has been another injury-riddled campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, who has played just one time all season long.
With Barcelona set to sign Andreas Christensen from Chelsea in the summer and Ronald Araujo also close to signing a new contract, Umtiti’s future at Camp Nou looks bleaker than ever. So, despite the fact that the Frenchman agreed to a downward renewal earlier this year, the Catalan giants will actively look to sell him come summer.
And Benfica have now presented themselves as a potential suitor to sign Umtiti before next season. The Portuguese giants had expressed an interest in the former Lyon defender during the January window. However, a move did not materialise as they decided to look at other options instead.
But, as per the report from Fichajes, Benfica are now back in the hunt for Umtiti’s signing. The Portuguese heavyweights are prepared to grant the 28-year-old an opportunity to recover from his fitness troubles and find his mojo back at Estadio da Luz next season.
Benfica, though, will likely have to face competition from Umtiti’s former club Lyon, who are also interested in the 28-year-old centre-half. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the Frenchman. But after six years and 133 appearances for the club, the France international looks poised to leave Barcelona come the end of the season.