31-year-old ex-Barcelona star plans retirement after injury hell

Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti is preparing for retirement at the age of just 31 after being released by Lille in June.

Umtiti’s career has been dogged by chronic knee problems before, during and after his time in Catalonia from 2016 to 2022.

The former France international was only able to make two Ligue 1 starts across two seasons at Lille, after undergoing two more knee operations on his return to France.

With his contract expiring at the end of 2025/26, Lille released him as a free agent, and no offer has arrived for the 31-year-old.

His spell on loan at Serie A side Lecce, from Barcelona in 2022/23, had sparked optimism over a return to fitness but his knee has consistently proved troublesome.

Umtiti joined Barcelona as one of the highest rated young defenders in Europe at the age of 23 as part of a €25m deal from Lyon.

His first two seasons under Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde were positive with a La Liga title won under the latter in 2017/18 followed by the FIFA World Cup with France that summer.

However, the following four seasons were injury filled, with the club agreeing a free transfer exit in June after losing faith over his return to full power.

As per reports from L’Equipe, Umtiti has set a final deadline over his future of September 10, which will decide whether or not he continues as an active player.

If no club offer arrives by that date, he could call time on his career, and retire from football.

The report claims some offers have been listened to by Umtiti and his representatives but none have appealed enough for a positive response at this stage.

Rumoured interest from the Saudi Pro League is ongoing but Umtiti’s likely preference is to remain in France after recently becoming a father.