Samuel Umtiti pledges long-term future to Barca
A buyout clause of €60m isn’t an insurmountable fee for any big club that is looking to steal a player away without having to sit down at the negotiating table with the parent club. In fact, these day’s it is relatively small change in the game of football when chairmen are looking to sign world-class players. That’s why everyone at Barcelona would have breathed a huge sigh of relief after Samuel Umtiti put pen to paper on a new five-year deal at the Nou Camp after it was revealed how modest the release clause in his contract was.
The French centre-back is an integral part of the Barcelona side and the prospect of losing him became somewhat of a reality when contract talks appeared to be stalling. There was very real interest in the 24-year old from across the continent and it looked like he could be on his way should that buyout clause be triggered at any stage. Umtiti was aware of the situation by acknowledging in April that his buyout clause was low and was under no illusions about the possible outcome.
Thankfully for everyone connected to Barcelona, an agreement was reached on the contract and Umtiti should be playing for the Spanish champions for a long time to come. Reports suggest that the buyout clause in his new contract is now €500m – so, all things considered, the Catalans dodged a bullet after Umtiti’s stock rose so dramatically over the time he has been at the Nou Camp.
[BREAKING NEWS]
We are delighted to announce @samumtiti has renewed his contract at @FCBarcelona until 2023!
#Umtiti2023 pic.twitter.com/ev2GKDqZOj— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 3, 2018
Without Umtiti in the team, Barca have a 57% chance of winning as opposed to 83% when he is playing. The Frenchman has started 48 games for Barca and astonishingly only experienced defeat once in all that time. In the 28 games he hasn’t started, Barca have gone on to lose four times. On that evidence, it becomes clear as to why Barca were desperate to get a deal over the line.
The player himself was delighted and it seemed the only club he wanted to play for was Barcelona and was quoted last week as saying that “it is clear that I want to renew my contract at Barcelona and I hope to be with the team next season.” It will be a weight off Umtiti’s mind and he can now focus on the World Cup with France without the distraction of an uncertain future.
Umtiti will now put club rivalry to one side for the next month or so as he partners Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane in the heart of the defence for France at the World Cup in Russia. With that centre-back pairing, France should go on to win Group C and are 2/7 to do so in international football betting. What happens after the group stages can become more of a lottery but it isn’t outside the realms of possibility that Barca may have a World Cup winner marshalling the defence next season.
🏆🏆 Plenty of time for more of these, @samumtiti! 🔵🔴 #Umtiti2023 pic.twitter.com/fjNB8hJgbj
— FC Barcelona 🏆🏆 (@FCBarcelona) June 3, 2018
With Umtiti tied down to a new lengthy contract, Barcelona will look to get a few more deals over the line and the one on everyone’s mind is Antoine Griezmann. Fans of the Spanish champions will hope Umtiti will have a word with his French teammate whilst away on international duty and convince him to follow his lead by putting pen to paper on a deal with Barcelona.