The future of Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has moved into the spotlight with contrasting reports in the Spanish press.
The front page of Diario Sport led with ‘Umtiti danger’ in a report which outlined his insistence in significantly increasing his wage packed at the club.
The Cameroonian-born defender apparently is demanding his salary falls in line with Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta at the Camp Nou.
However, fellow Catalan-paper El Mundo Deportivo has refuted these claims, stating instead that the defender is ‘very happy’ at the club and has no desire to leave.
The French international’s clause at the Camp Nou stands at €60m – a figure many clubs may view as attainable while his current annual wages reportedly stand at €4m.
Yannick Umtiti – Samuel’s brother and agent – is said to be in ‘constant contact’ with Manchester United, with indications that the player would be willing to move clubs with an annual wage packet of €9m on offer.
The English club have extensively scouted the Cameroonian-born defender and chief executive Ed Woodward was recently in the stands to watch him take on Atletico Madrid last Sunday.
Jose Mourinho has called the player ‘on a regular basis’ and Umtiti may also be persuaded by this affection and the presence of international teammates Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.
Barca are said to have already started the negotiation process for his renewal, advanced by this strong interest, but cannot match United’s economic proposal and the defender has a ‘complicated’ decision to make.
