Samuel Umtiti nears Barcelona exit as shock suitor emerges
James Shearman
- Updated: 31 Jul 2022 13:28 BST
- 3 min read
Representatives of Barcelona and Olympiacos are set to meet on Monday to discuss a deal for Samuel Umtiti.
Umtiti is no longer wanted at Barca, having fallen behind Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Gerard Pique in the pecking order last season.
Xavi's side have also brought in Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde in the transfer window, meaning there is no route back into the team for Umtiti.
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According to ESPN's Moil Lorens, Barcelona are to discuss a deal for the 28-year-old with Greek Super League champions Olympiacos.
Umtiti only recently signed a four-year deal with a pay cut to help with Barcelona's finances, but the Blaugrana have decided that he must leave the club.
The Frenchman will depart six seasons after joining, having amassed two goals in 133 appearances.
We are back home pic.twitter.com/HB2cTQ7Ll3
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 31, 2022
And Olympiacos are the team that has emerged as his most likely suitor, despite previous interest from the Premier League.
The move would come as a shock given the links to much bigger clubs in recent years - an indication of how far his stock has fallen.
Moves Umtiti missed out on
Rennes
A return to France looked likely for Umtiti, with multiple Ligue 1 clubs interested in signing the Barcelona man.
Umtiti previously played for Lyon, the club that gave him his break in football, and he could have gone back there.
Montpellier were also interested, while Rennes were favourites earlier in the window, after their fourth-place finish last season.
Newcastle
According to reports, Newcastle were interested in taking Umtiti in the January transfer window, but the player rejected the move and asked for another chance at Barcelona - a decision he must now regret.
Newcastle have since signed Dan Burn and Sven Botman, and have not gone back in for Umtiti.
