Loan watch: Barcelona defender picks up a shoulder injury, leaves pitch in tears

Just as Samuel Umtiti was looking to leave his injury woes behind and get back to playing regular football, the Barcelona loanee sustained a shoulder injury during Lecce’s clash against Hellas Verona earlier today.

The French centre-back left Barça in the summer transfer window, joining Italian minnows Lecce on loan without an option for a permanent transfer.

While he had to bide his time initially, Umtiti had grown into a regular at the back for the Serie A outfit and had put in some impressive displays, even garnering praise from the president of Lecce.

However, earlier today, the Barcelona loanee suffered a shoulder injury during Lecce’s Serie A encounter against Hellas Verona.

The injury materialised due to a collision with Verona’s Milan Djuric. While he tried to soldier on, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner could not carry on and dropped to the pitch clutching his shoulder. Eventually, he had to be taken off in the 73rd minute.

It was a disheartening sight as Umtiti walked off the pitch with tears in his eyes, which might suggest that the injury could be a serious one.

According to reports in Italy (h/t Gianluca Di Marzio), the Barcelona loanee will undergo tests to determine the extent of his injury.

Including today’s match, Umtiti has played eight times for Lecce this season and has played a key role in helping them steer clear of the relegation battle.

Given his past tryst with injuries, Umtiti playing without any fitness issues this season was a major positive for the player. So, this will come as a setback for the Frenchman, who will be hoping to mount a quick recovery.