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Barcelona have confirmed that French center-back Samuel Umtiti is set for a spell on the sidelines after fracturing a toe in training that will require surgery this week.
“The first team player Samuel Umtiti took a blow to his right foot in training on Monday and has fractured his fifth metatarsal bone,” read a club statement. “The player will undergo surgery on Tuesday with Doctor Antoni Dalmau and with the Club’s medical services supervising. Another press release will be issued when the surgery has taken place.”
The Catalan giants are yet confirm how much time Umtiti will miss but early reports suggest he may be set for a lengthy spell out. Xavi Sole at Mundo Deportivo has reported the defender “could be out for three months.”
Javier Miguel at Diario AS adds that the injury is similar to the one new teammate Ferran Torres sustained before sealing his move to Barcelona from Premier League side Manchester City.
Torres fracturing his foot playing for Spain in the Nations League in October 2021 and did not feature again until he made his debut for Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup in January 2022.
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Umtiti Adds to Barcelona’s Transfer Problems
Umtiti’s injury should not prove too problematic for Barcelona coach Xavi as the Frenchman has barely played this season. The defender’s only appearance came in his team’s 2-2 La Liga draw at Osasuna.
Injuries have seen Umtiti slip down the pecking order at the Camp Nou and behind the likes of fellow center-backs Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Clement Lenglet, and Oscar Mingueza.
Yet Barca had been hoping to offload Umtiti in the January transfer window to free up some more space on the wage bill to make room for more new signings despite having already brought in Torres and Dani Alves.
Umtiti is one of several players who Barca were hoping could potentially leave along with Luuk de Jong, Memphis Depay, and Sergino Dest, as reported by Jordi Gil at Diario Sport.
Barca have already found it difficult to find clubs interested in Umtiti, due to his recent injury record, but may find it almost impossible with the defender unlikely to play again for some time.
Umtiti Has Just Signed New Deal
However, Umtiti has been able to help his club out somewhat by signing a new contract, on reduced terms that now runs until 2026. Barca confirmed the new arrangement with a statement on the club’s website.
“FC Barcelona and first team player Samuel Umtiti have reached an agreement to
extend the latter’s contract until 30 June 2026. The French defender is reducing a part of the salary that he was due to receive in the year and a half remaining on his contract.”
The club also confirmed Umtiti’s new contract would allow Torres to finally be registered and placed on record their gratitude to Umtiti for his gesture.
“FC Barcelona wishes to publicly express its gratitude to Samuel Umtiti for his willingness and the affection that he has demonstrated towards the club,” added the statement. “Through this contract extension, FC Barcelona will be able to increase its ‘financial fair play’ quota and thus register Ferran Torres with the Spanish Professional Football League.
Umtiti is the latest Barcelona player to accept a salary reduction and follows in the footsteps of captains Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, and Jordi Alba.
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