Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti keen to avoid surgery

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti is keen to avoid undergoing surgery for a knee injury despite the wishes of the club, according to Diario Sport.

Umtiti previously underwent treatment to regenerate the cartilage rather than undergo a knee operation, but this does not appear to have worked in full as he is still suffering discomfort.

The fresh report claims he is in the hands of French physician Gerard Saillant, who is alleged to have remedied the knee problems for Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane, in the hope of the Barca player avoiding further treatment.

The Cameroon-born defender missed the recent matches against PSV Eindhoven and Villarreal with ‘knee discomfort’ and this is directly linked to a knee problem sustained against Leganes in September.

Catalunya Radio reported last week that surgery is now the only option after a series of attempts to avoid this solution, which would solve the problem but would lead to the player missing months of action.

Barca have been beset by defensive problems this campaign, conceding 19 goals in 14 La Liga matches thus far.

Tags Samuel Umtiti
La Liga - Club News