France defender and 2018 FIFA World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti has broken his silence on the nightmare he has endured at FC Barcelona.
The 26-year-old joined the Catalan club in 2016 full of promise following an impressive UEFA European Championship tournament, but has had a horrible time with injuries in recent seasons.
Umtiti has missed 74 matches due to fitness issues since his arrival in Spain, and was tipped to leave Barcelona in the latest transfer window, with his former club Olympique Lyon said to have been interested in his signature.
The centre-back has now insisted he does not want to leave the Blaugrana, despite Ronald Koeman reportedly telling him he can do so, and claimed to be feeling better than ever physically.
"There were discussions, but it was quick, nothing concrete. I had to be able to speak with a club. I'll be honest: Barcelona is Barcelona. I don't want to leave Barcelona and even less like that.
"The last two years have been the most complicated of my career. Sometimes I got really sick of it. I relapsed each time, and with different injuries because I was trying to compensate. It wasn't a knee problem, it was that I had a total imbalance. I had to start over.
"I stopped eating meat, fish and milk. I feel better, I sleep better. I have never felt so good physically.
"My body has also changed. I have lost three kilos. I have recovered. I have never worked so hard. And I'm happy about it."
Umtiti is yet to play for Barcelona this season, and only featured for the club on 18 occasions in the 2019/20 campaign.
