It’s panic stations at Sport in Barcelona on Monday, as the Catalan outlet reveal Samuel Umtiti is ‘distancing himself’ from a future in Spain, tempted by the option to go play under José Mourinho at Manchester United.
The story is their front cover, and they dedicate the first two pages to the situation, claiming the La Liga side aren’t prepared to match what the Red Devils are said to be offering him: around €9m/season post tax (around £150k/week).
Add the €60m release clause in his contract to the mix, and he might as well have already moved to Old Trafford, or, at least, that’s what they want you to believe.
Sport state that ‘every day, Umtiti is moving more and more away from Barça… and closer to Manchester United’.
José Mourinho is said to have ‘called him personally’ to offer him the €9m/year deal, which, coincidentally, is ‘exactly what he’s asking Barcelona for to continue’.
The ‘feeling’ between the Umtiti clan and the La Liga giants ‘isn’t the most promising’, as both parties are some way off in discussions, which isn’t helping the situation.
Barcelona are now said to be trying to find a replacement, most likely in Ligue 1, in case the France international leaves in the summer.
This is getting juicy…
