Samuel Umtiti opens door to quick Manchester United transfer ahead of World Cup
Samuel Umtiti has opened the door to a transfer to Manchester United and admitted he wants his situation resolved by the World Cup.
The France international is yet to sign a new contract at Barcelona and has found himself extensively linked with a move away from the Camp Nou.
Jose Mourinho was thought to have been actively pursuing the centre-back as he eyed new defensive recruits this summer and he was keen for Manchester United to trigger Umtiti’s £54million release clause.
Talk of a move died down when it appeared he was close to putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Catalan giants but Umtiti has sparked fresh speculation by claiming that he has no news over whether he’s going to sign a new contract.
The 24-year-old is determined not to have any distractions during the World Cup, where he is expected to be a starter for Didier Deschamps side, and insists he is looking for his situation to be solved before the beginning of Russia 2018.
‘On my contract extension I have no news,’ he said.
‘I look at my phone but I have not been called so nothing has happened.
‘My situation? I don’t think it’s going to disturb me too much because it’s been going on for a few months and I had to finish a season like this.
‘I think it’s important to settle these cases before the start of the competition and for my part it will be done.’