Umtiti finally leaves Barcelona for Lecce loan - but La Liga giants still paying his full salary
- Barca were desperate to get rid of 28-year-old
- Permanent sale not viable so compromised on loan
- No option-to-buy included in the deal
WHAT HAPPENED? Xavi has finally been able to arrange a deal to remove the World Cup winner from his squad. Umtiti has joined Lecce for the entirety of the 2022-23 season without the option to sign him permanently at the conclusion of the loan.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: It brings Barcelona closer to being able to register Jules Kounde in their squad for the 2022-23 La Liga campaign.
Although, they will still need to free up more space in the squad to register the Frenchman - who remains the only summer signing not to be included in their ranks - as the Blaugrana will still be paying Umtiti's salary after he heads to Italy, with only a number of performance-related bonuses heading back to the coffers at Camp Nou.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
THE VERDICT
Reminder that Umtiti is a World Cup winner.
Injuries have wrecked his time in Barcelona, hopefully they don't persist in Italy.
WHAT NEXT FOR UMTITI? It is a huge season for Umtiti, regardless of the level at which he is playing his football. Proving he is still a centre-back capable of producing quality performances in a top-five European league could help him return to somewhere that resembles his previous best.