Samuel Umtiti saves the day
Barcelona are finally able to register forward Ferran Torres after Samuel Umtiti signed a contract extension at Camp Nou.
Despite arriving in Spain after joining from Manchester City in a €55 million (£46m) deal at the end of December, Torres is yet to make his debut for Xavi’s side with Barcelona unable to register him until the club sold players or reduced their wage bill.
However, with French defender Umtiti signing a new four-and-a-half year deal with the Catalan giants – agreeing to a reduced salary – Barcelona are now able to officially register Torres.
Through this contract extension, FC Barcelona will be able to increase its ‘financial fair play’ quota and thus register @FerranTorres20 with the Spanish Professional Football League. https://t.co/M49mXejym3 pic.twitter.com/oJcFR8esbv
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 10, 2022
The club announced that they would need to further cut their wage bill in order to register the 21-year-old, with Umtiti accepting a pay cut to extend his six-year spell at Camp Nou.
Barcelona confirmed the news in an official statement, which read: “FC Barcelona and first team player Samuel Umtiti have reached an agreement to extend the latter’s contract until 30 June 2026. The French defender is reducing a part of the salary that he was due to receive in the year and a half remaining on his contract.
“This contract extension operation does not entail any greater financial commitments for FC Barcelona with regard to the player.
“FC Barcelona wishes to publicly express its gratitude to Samuel Umtiti for his willingness and the affection that he has demonstrated towards the club.
“Through this contract extension, FC Barcelona will be able to increase its ‘financial fair play’ quota and thus register Ferran Torres with the Spanish Professional Football League.”
Speaking on the contract extension, Spanish football journalist, author and pundit Guillem Balagué suggested that it was a ‘clever’ solution for the Catalan side, arguing that Barca were being ‘streetwise’.
He said: “So that is a clever solution for #FCB. Umtiti has renewed his contract, he will earn less and that means Ferran Torres can be registered! You have to say, a lot of what the club is doing is streetwise and a positive dynamic is being created”.
So that is a clever solution for #FCB. Umtiti has renewed his contract, he will earn less and that means Ferran Torres can be registered!
You have to say, a lot of what the club is doing is streetwise and a positive dynamic is being created https://t.co/OMjJJR8wiU
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) January 10, 2022
Torres, who scored 16 goals in 43 games for Man City, opted to leave City after failing to settle in England.
The forward returns to La Liga where he made 71 appearances for Valencia during a three-season spell, hoping to help Barcelona climb the table after an underwhelming start to the season.
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