In a surprise turn of events, Barcelona have announced the contract extension of struggling centre-back Samuel Umtiti. The 28-year-old French international is struggling with form and fitness at Camp Nou and was expected to leave this month with just eighteen months remaining on his contract. But the Catalan giants posted on their official website that Umtiti has signed a 4-year contract extension deal which will keep him at Camp Nou till June 2026.
This is big shocking news for Barcelona fans who were expecting a possible January exit for Umtiti as the player is hardly getting any minutes under the management of Xavi. Umtiti has made just one league appearance this season and has failed to feature in Copa del Rey and Champions League this term.
Barcelona announce they have renewed Samuel Umtiti’s contract until 2026 with the defender agreeing to reduce his overall salary.
It means Ferran Torres can now be registered ? pic.twitter.com/kki9bd0t0j
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 10, 2022
Xavi has preferred Eric Garcia and Gerard Pique as his two first-choice centre-back options since his arrival. Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet have fallen in the pecking order as Oscar Mingueza is settled as the third centre-back choice at Camp Nou. Garcia suffered an injury in their lastest fixture against Granada two days ago and is expected to miss four weeks of football. Umtiti can be drafted as Pique’s partner in the defence after these recent developments into his contract situation.
Ferran Torres To Be Registered As Barcelona Reduced Umiti’s Wages:
Barcelona are full of surprises this year. Club President Joan Laporta shocked everyone when he announced the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City and that too for £45 million. Barcelona are under tremendous pressure from financial regulations by La Liga. They are restricted to spending less than £80 million this season after reporting the losses of £333 million last season.
This resulted in the departure of club legend Lionel Messi who was already playing on half of his agreed wages alongside key Barcelona stars Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquests, and Jordi Alba. Samuel Umtiti has accepted the significant reduction in his wages including the eighteen months remaining wages on his previous contract.
FC Barcelona and first team player Samuel Umtiti have reached an agreement to extend the latter’s contract until 30 June 2026. The French defender is reducing a part of the salary that he was due to receive in the year and a half remaining on his contract. This contract extension operation does not entail any greater financial commitments for FC Barcelona with regard to the player. – Official Barcelona Statement.
And due to financial restrictions, there were unable to register Ferran Torres till now. But the recent loan departure of Phillipe Coutinho to Aston Villa and Umtiti’s wage reduction Barcelona finally registered Ferran Torres to feature in La Liga. But still, they need to sell their high-earning players to balance the salary books as they are operating below the salary cap imposed by La Liga. Star forward Ousmane Dembele and full-back Sergino Dest are possible departures in this winter transfer window.
Ferran Torres is currently isolated after testing positive for the Covid-19. But Xavi is expecting a negative result soon as Barcelona face Real Madrid in their next Supercopa de Espana semi-final fixture two days later.