Samuel Umtiti is reportedly inching closer to leaving Barcelona by joining newly-promoted Serie A club Lecce on loan this summer.
According to reputed Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Samuel Umtiti’s nightmare at Barcelona will end in the coming days, with newly-promoted Serie A club Lecce on the verge of securing his services on a loan deal before the summer transfer window shuts down.
Samuel Umtiti has had a topsy turvy ride at Barcelona, enjoying some skyrocketing highs while also enduring plummeting lows. The Frenchman is currently on the other end of the spectrum as he is surplus to requirements at Camp Nou after dropping to the bottom of the pecking order for centre-backs at the Catalan club.
Xavi Hernandez excluded the 28-year-old from Barcelona’s squad for the pre-season tour to the USA, and the Catalan giants are keen on sealing his departure before the summer transfer window shuts down. That has been reflected thus far in the 2022/23 season, with Umtiti yet to feature for Barcelona.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup was once a pivotal figure for Barcelona after making a strong start to his stint with the Blaugrana. Umtiti’s partnership at the heart of Barcelona’s defence was formidable, but a spate of injuries has hampered him considerably, rendering him a pale shadow of his former dominant self.
Umtiti has barely featured for Barcelona in the last couple of years, and Xavi does not view the French defender in his long-term plans. The Catalan giants have been hoping to get Umtiti off their books for weeks, and a move to Stade Rennais seemed likely in July before the Ligue 1 outfit ended interest in him.
Several other clubs have also approached Barcelona for Umtiti, but a move is yet to materialise. But according to Gianluca Di Marzio, the 28-year-old might finally end his nightmare at Camp Nou, with Lecce closing in on securing his services. Further information from COPE suggests the newly-promoted Serie A club will sign the Barcelona outcast on a simple loan deal.
Lecce will not have the option or obligation to sign Umtiti permanently next summer, with Barcelona bearing the expense of his wages. It will be interesting to see if a move to Serie A formulates for the Barcelona outcast, albeit only on a loan deal for the 2022/23 season.
