Barcelona Could 'Fire' Defender Before End of Season

Samuel Umtiti could reportedly be fired by Barcelona before the end of this season if he continues to resist leaving the club.

Barca have been trying to offload Umtiti for years, and the club's current financial problems means they need to reduce their wage bill as soon as possible. Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba have both agreed substantial wage reductions, but future cuts are necessary.

Umtiti is one of the players touted to leave the club due to his lack of appearances in recent years, coupled with his £131,000-a-week contract that still has two more years left to run.

According to Sport, Ronald Koeman's side have reached the end of their rope, and will consider sacking the Frenchman if he does not agree to leave the club. The report adds that Umtiti is considering offers from only those clubs who can offer him Champions League football, and reportedly turned down a move to an unnamed club in Turkey.

The club also reportedly want Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho to take a pay cut as they continue to deal with financial difficulties. Club president Joan Laporta announced earlier this month that the club are in a “dramatic” financial crisis with debts amounting to £1.1bn.

The LaLiga giants were also unable to re-sign Lionel Messi, who joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. And now, according to Ara, Griezmann and Coutinho are ‘top’ of Barcelona’s list for contract talks over a potential pay cut.

"As of March 21, 2021, the debt was €1.35bn," Laporta said. "Bartomeu was plugging holes in the short term and mortgaging the club in the long term. That leaves us a dramatic inheritance. To the initial debt of €617m you have to add €389m on players, €90m in litigation, €79m in advance television rights and €56m from the 'Espai Barca' project. In total, it's €1.35bn."