French giants interested in signing Barcelona centre-back in the summer

Barcelona made multiple at offloading Samuel Umtiti in the past year or so, but failed to achieve success in their endeavours, often due to the lack of suitors or the player’s own disinterest in leaving Camp Nou.

However, that might be set to change in the summer of 2022 as a report from Mundo Deportivo (h/t Fichajes) is claiming that French heavyweights Olympique Lyon are interested in signing the injury-prone Barcelona defender before the commencement of the next season.

Umtiti arrived at Barça from Lyon back in 2016 for a fee of around €25 million. While he enjoyed a successful debut season in Catalonia, things have been going downhill ever since due to his unrelenting injury and fitness problems.

Firmly out of the plans under Xavi Hernandez, Umtiti is believed to be open to an exit in the summer as he seeks to play regularly and get his career back on track. And, a return to his former club, Lyon, could allow him to do just that.

The 28-year-old came through the ranks at Lyon, having joined the club at a very young age in 2002. Having risen through the academy, he became a first-team member from 2012 and racked up 170 appearances before leaving for Barcelona in 2016.

Umtiti recently signed a downward renewal with the Blaugrana in January, extending his stay until 2026, in order to facilitate the registration of the new signings.

However, it is clear that Barcelona wish to offload him in the summer and, unlike in the past, the player, too, is believed to be accepting of his current situation and would be open to an exit.

It is unclear as to whether Lyon wish to sign him on loan or on a permanent deal. But an exit in the summer could be very well on the cards for the 2018 World Cup-winning defender.