MERCATO – FC Barcelona – Why Samuel Umtiti extended at Barça when nobody expected

You can never fight childhood dreams. This is what FC Barcelona have been trying to do since April 2019 when, for the first time, they considered transferring Samuel Umtiti. For almost three years, he has tried everything: sports downgrading, transfer against crazy sums that quickly became derisory and even zero, the organized leak of information aimed at discrediting him and even threats of dismissal. Nothing helped. Why ? Because before becoming “Big Sam”, little Samuel had a dream: to succeed in Catalonia. He never stopped hanging on to it and it must be said that the huge salary offered by FC Barcelona just before his cascade of injuries helped him pursue his goal comfortably. Barça saw red, Umtiti remained in his right and the situation rotted until Monday when everything was unraveled by surprise. A look back at three years of exhausting arm wrestling in four questions.

Why did FC Barcelona offer Umtiti a golden bridge?

Barça’s initial foul dates from June 3, 2018. But is it just a foul? At the time, no one cried scandal when Samuel Umtiti signed a two-year contract extension, until June 2023, for a colossal salary increase (estimated at 9 million euros per year). The former Lyonnais comes out of two good seasons with 105 matches. His release clause of 60 million euros now seems derisory in view of the inflation of the market and the price for example of Van Dijk (bought 84 million euros in January 2018).

Why did FC Barcelona punish Umtiti?

From September 28 to November 10, 2018, Umtiti, affected in the left knee, is absent. He relapsed on November 27, triggering the start of tensions because the French refused the operation. He is testing an alternative treatment in Qatar while Sport, a Catalan newspaper sometimes spokesperson for the club, announces that the injury (pieces of cartilage that come off) is very unusual for a 25-year-old player and recalls that of Carles Puyol … in end of career. While concern is strong around a player in whom Barça has invested heavily, two episodes will strain relations.

Why did the situation end up rotting?

The more months have passed, the more Barça’s desire to part ways with their defender has grown. First, its sale (around 60 million euros) was to finance the arrival of de Ligt. And then, very quickly, it served as a fuse to lighten Barça’s payroll and rectify the Catalan club’s accounting errors. Over time, its price has continued to decrease at the same time as its sporting situation.

Why was this extension the only possible outcome?

In December, a supporter jumps in his car after training. In January, Esport3 sets fire to the powder by asserting that Umtiti emerges at 20 million euros per year. Barça can no longer sell a player who has only played one game this season and whose salary no longer corresponds to anything. Umtiti sees his image degraded. Dismissed by Xavi, his dream of succeeding at Barça has never seemed so far away with a year remaining in his contract. At 28, he is at a turning point. Worn out by years of tug-of-war, and while he hasn’t had a knee problem for a year, he’s probably thinking it’s time to get back on the pitch and become a football player again.