The news that Samuel Umtiti has renewed his Barcelona contract until 2023 will come as a huge sigh of relief to the club’s supporters.
Though the centre-back had recently said he would need to be kicked out of the club because it was his intention to reach an agreement, there was still a niggling doubt because of the way that he’d courted Manchester United in the not-too-distant past.
With an incredibly low €60m buyout clause, he was well within reach of the Red Devils or any other club that wanted to acquire his services.
That nothing happened suggests that perhaps it was brinkmanship on the player and his agent’s part, in order to get the best possible deal they could. A tried and trusted tactic it must be said.
Now the soap opera is over and the Blaugrana will be home for Umtiti for the next five years. Whether or not they eventually end up buying Antoine Griezmann, Clement Lenglet or the many other players they’ve already been linked to, the renewal of Umtiti will be their best signing of this summer.
The young Frenchman has been an absolute colossus for the most part since his arrival in Catalonia.
For years, Barcelona were crying out for someone with his stature, physicality and technical ability, and in a position they almost always struggle to fill adequately, Umtiti was manna from heaven.
His relationship with Gerard Pique is still developing, but it’s clear that when the pair are in situ, the Blaugrana become very difficult to beat. Multiple clean sheets will attest to that.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen enjoys playing behind them, and will no doubt be similarly delighted that the defensive status quo will remain the same throughout 2018/19.
#UCL
Against Italy this weekend, Umtiti got on the scoresheet for France, alongside domestic teammate, Ousmane Dembele, another facet of his game which is coming on leaps and bounds.
Barcelona have clearly seen the advantages of having him go up for set-pieces, and though it’s not the main job he is handsomely remunerated for, it does add another string to his bow.
One only has to see how valuable Sergio Ramos has been to rivals Real Madrid in that regard to understand the positive aspects.
With the new contract being signed on Monday morning, Umtiti can now give of his best in Russia for France, and then get back down to business with Barca thereafter.
No more off-field distractions should mean that Barcelona get to see the best of him once more.
