Barcelona offer 29-year-old star a letter of freedom in attempt to lower salary mass

With Barcelona growing desperate to part ways with unwanted players, SPORT is reporting that they have offered defensive outcast Samuel Umtiti a letter of freedom so that he can leave the club as a free agent.

After two years of hardly playing, Umtiti left Barcelona for Lecce last summer, joining the Italians on a season-long loan deal. And the 29-year-old did exceedingly well in the Serie A, playing at a good level, staying relatively injury-free, and helping Lecce avoid relegation.

Now that he is returning to Barcelona, it is clear that the Frenchman does not have a future at the club. And the La Liga champions are intent on offloading him at the earliest possible, potentially by June 30 before the new financial period starts.

There has been interest from Umtiti’s former club Olympique Lyon, but the defender would have to reduce his salary in order to secure a return to Ligue 1.

Barcelona, for their part, are willing to do everything in their power to facilitate his exit. Earlier reports had indicated that the Catalans could ask for a token fee of around €4 million for Umtiti’s sale.

However, now, it is being stated that they have offered him a letter of freedom, which would essentially be a mutual termination of the 29-year-old’s contract that runs until the summer o 2026.

It would allow Umtiti to leave the club as a free agent and sign for whichever team he wishes for. The Blaugrana, though, would want him to renounce the money that he would receive for the remainder of his contract.

There is no agreement between the two parties yet, and Barcelona’s proposal has a deadline. So it now remains to be seen if Umtiti is willing to accept the offer to give up his contract and accept the letter of freedom.