Samuel Umtiti, who took France to the World Cup gold in Russia 2018, has had a bit tougher time on the pitch in recent years, and was loaned to Lecce for this season, where he has so far received plenty of playing time in Serie A .
Now Umtiti opens up about feeling well again – after several tough years in Barcelona.
– It felt like four years in prison in Barcelona. Not just sportingly, but also in my everyday life, he says to French Canal+ and continues:
– I was really in a bad place. I preferred to stay away from everyone. At first I felt good and performed at a high level, but then I started to feel a certain insecurity about myself and then I realized that no one believed in me anymore. It was a challenge for me. I needed to feel appreciated, respected and useful.
Umtiti is thus grateful for his time in Lecce.
– I know that avoiding relegation is not the same as winning the championship, but I am grateful to Lecce for getting my smile back here.
Umtiti’s loan deal with Lecce is over this season, after which he is under contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2026. He joined Barcelona from Lyon in 2016, and has a total of 133 appearances for the club.
In this season, he has made 23 appearances in Italy.
2023-05-26 05:14:00
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