Milan to provide an exit for wantaway Barcelona star

Robin Bairner
Robin Bairner
  • 4 Dec 2021 10:16 CST
  • 3 min read
Barcelona coach Xavi during a LaLiga Santander match.
© ProShots

Barcelona will try to ease their financial problems in January by offloading a number of fringe players.

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President Joan Laporta will appreciate this is no easy task given the transfer market at present. Clubs around the globe are still suffering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the inflated deals that Barca’s fringe players are on makes their current wages almost unmatchable in many cases.

Although there are numerous players that they want to get rid of, the practicalities of doing so are complicated.

However, Milan may just have opened a door to allow one such problem star to depart.

Umtiti heading to Milan?

Sport reports that Samuel Umtiti is ready to put a couple of nightmarish years at Barca behind him to start afresh.

The World Cup winner has been troubled by both injury and loss of form in recent times, to such an extent that Barcelona have even sought a way in which to unilaterally terminate his contract.

Milan, though, may provide a way to prevent them from doing that.

Ancelotti looking to raid Spain again with Umtiti swoop, but could it happen?
© ProShots

The Serie A title hopefuls are in need of defensive reinforcements following a serious knee injury to Denmark captain Simon Kjaer, and Umtiti’s position at Barcelona makes him readily available to depart.

Of course, a lack of game time is problematic for Milan. Umtiti, who is still only 28, has not played a single minute of football this season and cannot expect to hit the ground running if he went to San Siro.

Additionally, Umtiti has suffered continual injury problems for a prolonged period of time, so there is little guarantee that he will prove to be a reliable option.

If Milan are yet to be convinced by a deal, it is a transfer that would certainly seduce Barcelona, who could use getting Umtiti off their wage bill in January.

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