Umtiti and his rebirth in Lecce: “In Catalonia I spent 4 years in prison…”

Twenty-three appearances this season, almost all as a starter. More than he had collected in the last two years in Barcelona, ​​where fans and insiders had begun to give him up. Samuel Umtiti is smiling again: the French defender himself told the microphones of Canal+, who dedicated a report to the 29-year-old former world champion.

“Catalan Jail”

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“All I needed was to feel appreciated, useful and respected – explained Samuel in the interview -. In Catalonia I spent four years in prison: not only on a sporting level, but in everyday life”. Moved from Lyon to Barcelona in 2016, after two years Umtiti composed with Varane the defensive duo of France at the World Cup (won) in Russia. “Initially, after my move to Spain, I felt appreciated and played at a good level. Then I started to feel distrust, I felt bad and I realized that no one believed in me anymore”.

Salvation and… Lyon

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Last summer, Pantaleo Corvino decided to bring Umtiti to Lecce on a loan deal: “It was a challenge for me. I know well that saving yourself, in these parts, is worth a championship – continued the 1993 class -. That’s okay, because in Salento I found my smile again and I’m grateful to society for that”. On June 30, Samuel should return to Barcelona: “Future? Now I only think about avoiding relegation. However, some time ago, my friend Lacazette (captain of Lyon, ed) came to see me at the Via del Mare. We thought that, before retiring, it would be nice to play a little more together”. His contract with the blaugrana will expire in 2026 but Umtiti seems to have other priorities: “I want to continue feeling good, I succeeded in Italy. I love the language, food and fashion…”.