Barcelona's contract talks with Umtiti have stalled
The player wants to trible what he's currently earning
The improvement and extension of Samuel Umtiti's Barcelona contract is not advancing as expected, keeping in mind that it was Barcelona who took the first steps to reward the player for his performances since joining from Lyon.
As of today, we could say that Barça's first offer has not satisfied the France international's representatives... or the player himself.
Umtiti is a rare case in Barça's recent history because they're trying to renew a player who has still not completed the second year of a five-year deal. His deal at Camp Nou runs until June 2021.
What's brought negotiations forward is the fact that Umtiti's release clause remains 60 million euros, a fee which most big clubs in England, Germany or France would now be willing to pay.
Umtiti's performances at Barça have surprised everyone at the club. They did not expect him to progress so quickly, especially with the personality with which he has done so.
However, there's a serious risk that he leaves the club if they do not increase their offer.
As one of the regulars in Ernesto Valverde's side, Umtiti earns less than half what the majority of his teammates do, including some of the backup players. The club, therefore, have a problem, with the former Lyon man wanting his salary tripled. And given the club's current wage bill, that's not easy to do.
For now, both sides are taking some time to reflect before restarting talks. Everything suggests the club will have to make a huge effort to keep the defender at Camp Nou.
