Known for their incredible attacking verve, accuracy in the pass and possession of the ball, Barcelona players that remain amongst the most popular are the central defensive ‘minders.’ The warriors who will die for the Blaugrana cause. For whom fair play is paramount but who’ll get their hands dirty when required.
Carles Puyol is an obvious example, a captain fantastic who led from the front. Ditto ‘Tarzan’ Migueli, who at one time held the appearance record for the Catalan club.
When you’re in the trenches and need someone to lead, that pair are precisely the type of people you want to have your back.
Now, Samuel Umtiti is following in those footsteps and looking every inch the general alongside Gerard Pique’s more modern variant on the position.
The Frenchman, signed for what now looks like a bargain €25m, is rarely ruffled and can mix it when required. Keeping it simple is his mantra and one that footballers should live by more often.
A sideways pass here, short give and go there… if there’s an easy option, the 23-year-old will take it. Every time. And you won’t find Ernesto Valverde or any of his club colleagues complaining about it either.
Since Puyol departed there’s been a huge void in that area of the side, and one that neither Jeremy Mathieu or Thomas Vermaelen could fill. Though their hires didn’t work out quite as poorly as that of Dimitro Chygrynskiy, the pair hardly covered themselves in glory.
Mathieu lines up against his old colleagues on Wednesday night of course, whilst Vermaelen will only be used in the event of a defensive crisis at the club. That he’s even still there is a surprise, but injury concerns that have never gone away have, evidently, scared any purchasers off.
Marlon Santos had been earmarked for a first-team place this season too, but Valverde preferred to send him on loan to Nice where, in all likelihood, he’ll sign at the end of the loan deal.
In any event, Umtiti continues to line up alongside Pique, providing the steel and grit that all good central defenders possess. The confidence in his ability on the left side can be seen in how often Jordi Alba is willing to bomb down the Barcelona flank, knowing that his base will be covered.
Quickly establishing himself in the starting XI, the youngster is rarely beaten for pace or in the air and, injuries permitting should be a fixture at the back for years to come.
A future Barca captain? Don’t bet against it…
