Barcelona will keep Samuel Umtiti for the 2021/22 season after failing to convince the defender to leave the club, amid rumoured interest from Everton, according to Sport.
The La Liga giants had sought to push Umtiti out of the Camp Nou exit doors before next Tuesday’s deadline. Barcelona are desperate to lower their wage bill to fall in line with league regulations, and viewed the Frenchman as a high-earner they can live without.
But Umtiti’s high wage also made it impossible for Barcelona to drum up significant interest that would appeal to him. The 27-year-old was always reluctant to leave Catalunya and will now remain a part of Ronald Koeman’s plans this season.
Several Ligue 1 outfits had explored signing the 2018 World Cup winner over the course of the summer. Neither offer satisfied Umtiti’s aspirations or financial aims, however, and will now serve as Koeman’s last-choice centre-back for the season. Competing with Gerard Pique, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Clement Lenglet and Oscar Mingueza for minutes.
Everton also considered raiding Barcelona for Umtiti this summer, according to the Mirror. The Toffees hoped the potential of playing under Rafa Benitez would convince the €4m-a-year (£66k-p/w) enforcer to move to England. But, seemingly, were unsuccessful, too.
Barcelona now hope Umtiti will agree to defer part of his wage after allowing him to stay at the club. The Blaugrana intend to speak with his representatives over the coming weeks to discuss his salary situation. They have already agreed to defer some of his teammates’ pay.
Will Everton rue missing out on Barcelona defender Umtiti?
Everton always faced a challenge trying to convince Umtiti to leave Barcelona and move to Goodison Park. Not only did he not want to leave the Camp Nou, but the Toffees could not offer him the Champions League football he desired in any potential suitor this summer.
Benitez may now have to make do with Michael Keane, Mason Holgate, Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey as his options. A reasonably solid unit, but one that Marcel Brands can improve after occasionally lacking aggression and decisiveness last season.
Umtiti could have improved Everton’s aggression to win possession and quality on the ball with a move away from Barcelona. Instead the defender, who Eric Abidal considers ‘world-class’, via ESPN, will hope for a fresh start under Koeman this season.
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