Welcome to the Ch'tis. On July 22, 2023, Samuel Umtiti permanently left FC Barcelona to join Lille . It's unclear whether the 2018 world champion cried tears of joy upon arriving in northern France, but we're certain he'll leave with a heart full of memories and beautiful images. However, it wasn't all plain sailing for Big Sam. After a generally successful loan spell with Lecce in Italy, the defender wanted to get back on track with his career and show that his injuries were a distant memory. But he was once again let down by his body.
An experience thwarted by injuries
During his first season, in 2023-24, the Yaoundé native participated in 5 matches in all competitions before being stopped in his tracks by a concussion. Sidelined for 10 days (missing 2 matches), he then took part in 8 matches. He was also sometimes on the bench without coming into play. Ultimately, his season ended in early February 2024 due to a knee injury. Umtiti therefore posted a record of 13 matches played (710 minutes of play). This was inevitably disappointing for the footballer, who had worked hard to stay in shape.
In 2024-25, Umtiti began his season in the infirmary recovering from his injury. An injury that ultimately sidelined him for 364 days (missing 53 matches in all competitions). Back in training, the Frenchman was overjoyed, as was his president Olivier Létang, who was delighted to see him return to running. But many wondered if the former Olympique Lyonnais player could help his team during the rest of the season. The LOSC boss admitted he had no idea.
Big Sam is available
"Will he ever wear the Lille jersey again? It's too early to say. We're letting him work in peace. We're supporting him so he can come back in peace. Today, I'm unable to tell you if he'll be able to return and when. He's simply training at Luchin." Four months later, we had the answer to that question. Unfortunately, Umtiti was unable to play again in the Lille jersey. Shortly after his return, he suffered a calf injury. This required 75 days of absence (12 missed matches). Then, Bruno Genesio left him on the bench without bringing him into the game in the matches against OM (May 4), Brest (May 10), and Reims (May 17). He thus finished the season without playing a single match.
This left little doubt about his future at Lille, who announced his departure. Soon to be officially free and on the market, Umtiti is preparing for a new challenge, having experienced some complicated times in recent seasons. Regarding his future destination, no clues have yet been leaked to the media. Contacted by us, his entourage also declined to comment on the subject. For his part, the player is also remaining silent. His last media appearance dates back to June 4, during a deal with Orange regarding his screen time management. LOSC, for its part, has already turned the page. The number 14, worn by Big Sam, has been taken over by rookie Marius Broholm. At 31, Umtiti will have to make a fresh start, as he plays for a lot of players.
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