Samuel Umtiti has joined Italian Serie A side Leece on loan until the end of the season.
Umtiti has a contract with Barcelona until June 2023, and Lecce might be able to sign him permanently on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The Frenchman is one of those players deemed expendable by Xavi, and he was also left out of pre-season.
Umtiti played only one game in the last season for Barcelona after falling to the bottom of Barca defenders’ pecking order.
Upon his departure from the club, Umtiti has said that his past few years at Barcelona have been complicated for him.
“These past few years have been complicated for me and I want to rediscover the pleasure of playing football,” Samuel Umtiti was quoted by Di Marzio.
“I want to play, talk and live football. It’s the most important thing for me. I hope to have a good season with Lecce.”