The exit operation in the FC Barcelona begins, finally, to get unstuck. One of the open fronts was that of Samuel Umtiti, a player with a very high record who had not been part of the team's plans for years, something that did not change with the arrival of Xavi Hernández on the culé bench. The center-back, in decline since becoming world champion in 2018 with the French team due to problems with his left knee, will play on loan this season at the Italian US Lecce, a team that returned to the calcium elite this year and began the campaign with two losses.
It is a transfer for a season without a purchase option. That means that, no matter what happens, Barça will face the problem again next summer, but at least they will gain time to think about possible options and will exhaust another year of their contract, which ends in 2026. In addition, it will be the Barcelona club the one that assumes the payment of his record almost in its entirety. Lecce agrees to cover a small part of the salary, to which a bonus will have to be added that will depend on the games played by the Frenchman.
With these conditions, the operation will help Barça little to lower its wage bill, to be able to register Jules Koundé or to adjust to the financial fair play that has been giving it problems in recent days. Even so, it is a way of postponing a headache that plagued the board and the coaching staff.
It is also a relief for the footballer, an opportunity to start again in another place and be able to recover the level that led him to be a starter with France in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and to be hired by Barça for 25 million euros for two years. before, in 2016. Then he was characterized by being a rocky central defender, with a good ball output and with the advantage of being left-footed in his position. Lost all confidence, his abilities seem to have vanished.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Umtiti will travel to Italy today to undergo a medical check-up and present himself to those who will be his new teammates. It is expected that he will arrive around 8:00 p.m. on transalpine soil. Pantaleo Corvino, sports director of Lecce, had been leaving clues about his club's intentions in recent days: "I can't deny it, it's important news. It's an idea we have, like many others. Anything is possible," he said, in reference to the rumors that placed the French central defender in his entity.
The former Olympique de Lyon player only played 90 minutes last season, all of them against Osasuna. He leaves Barça, at least temporarily, with 133 games behind him in all competitions, two goals, and seven titles: two Leagues, three Copas del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups.
