It’s been emotional. Samuel Umtiti is now a free agent. The Frenchman ended his association with the yellow-reds but also departed Barcelona three years before the date his contract was supposed to expire.The story of Umtiti has had its painful chapters, but the last season suggests the French defender still can make his story a pleasant and uplifting one. After years of struggling on the fringes of Barcelona’s team, he revived his career with a fine year playing on loan at Lecce in Serie A.END OF THE ROAD | Samuel Umtiti has mutually agreed to terminate contract❌He was signed for €25m in 2016 from Lyon, but has struggled with injuriesHe has played just 2,867 minutes in La Liga across four seasons at Barcelona🇪🇸Last season he was loaned to Lecce#Umtiti pic.twitter.com/DnC0AtnIbB— The_BeautifulGame (@The_BeautGame1) June 30, 2023 It’s no wonder Samuel is emotional. He was ravaged by injuries following the 2018 World Cup, in which he won the gold medal with France. What followed was a nightmare. Three years of enduring injuries, coupled with insults from Barcelona fans, shattered the former Lyon youngster’s confidence and made him question his love for the game. Umtiti had joined Barcelona from Lyon in 2016 for a fee of around $35 million, but he made just 133 appearances for the club over seven years, with his last being his solitary outing in the 2021/22 campaign.After everything that happened in Catalonia, it’s no wonder he feels so much gratitude towards Lecce’s supporters. The 29-year-old centre-back said he felt priviledged to be a part of such a brave team and help them remain in the top division when many doubted their credentials.”I would like to thank director of football Mr. Pantaleao Corvino and Lecce for reaching out to me when other teams doubted me. Thank you for your trust. I found a team with values and an exceptional mentality. We had a goal at the start of the season and we achieved it thanks to hard work. For me, staying in Serie A is like winning a title.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7349167##Proof of Umtiti’s gratitude was reported by the Italian daily Gazzetta Dello Sport. ‘Big Sam’ organized a party for all his teammates just before he departed Italy. He was so moved that he gave Louis Vuitton-branded gifts to every player at the club – from the third goalkeeper to the youngsters in the youth team. In return, the club gave him a framed picture depicting him in the Lecce jersey. It brought him to tears.”I will always remember you, guys.” Leaving Barcelona was like a prison breakSo, what’s next for Umtiti? It’s hard to say now, but he’s been backed to make a return to his first club Olympique Lyonnais, where one of his old buddies, Alexandre Lacazette has found his peace. Umtiti admitted a month ago that a potential reunion appeals to him.”Lately, Laca and I were talking about it, and I would like to play with him again before the end of my career, he learns. Afterwards, it’s too early to talk about it, but Lecce is a springboard. Everyone thought I was dead. I knew I was coming here to bounce back and go higher.”
