You will all be relieved to know that Barcelona are not holding Samuel Umtiti hostage, and the France international will be free to leave in the summer if he wishes to do so.
That is, pretty much literally, what someone at the La Liga club told L’Equipe on Thursday when discussing the player’s quite frankly laughable €60m release clause.
This affordable amount has led to numerous, and we mean *numerous*, reports from Spain that Manchester United were ready to pay the fee and offer the 24-year-old far more money than he was currently on at Barcelona to bring him to Old Trafford.
Of course, that led to talk of a contract renewal in Catalonia, which was to be expected, but nothing has been signed, and, as things stand, he’s still available at that price.
Speaking to L’Equipe, the Barcelona board member said: “If he wants to leave, he will and we’ll have to accept that. Samu will stay, it’s his will and ours. We’ll find a solution that makes everyone happy.”
Until that solution is found, however, the rumours of an exit will continue, most likely all throughout the World Cup, which the Frenchman will very likely go to and start in, especially after Laurent Koscielny’s recent injury.
Barcelona better hurry up with that new contract, because if they wait too long, he might start considering a move elsewhere, especially if he has a good World Cup and knows he can be properly valued somewhere else.
Like Old Trafford.
