Almost four years after Josep Maria Bartomeu extended his contract until 2023 without the approval of the technicians for his injury to his left knee, Joan Laporta doubled the bet and Barça officially announced the extension of the French central until 2026. Obviously, the renewal, an operation between pragmatism and extravagance, has a trick because it is the tool that Barça uses to be able to comply with LaLiga’s financial fair play rules and thus register Ferran Torres, which according to official communication from Barça, already has the green light to play.
Barça explains “publicly” its gratitude for “the effort” and “love” that Umtiti has shown towards the club. According to SER Catalunya, the central reduces his salary by 10% and will receive in five years what he should receive in the next year and a half. Barça does not differ the salary, but the French will collect the pending amounts in five years. In exchange, Umtiti could leave Barça for free if he decides. If it returns to have prominence, it would collect more money through bonuses from 2023.
In summary, Barça did not serve him with the savings that the transfer of Coutinho supposed, which left 7 million euros free, but of which only 1.5 could be used due to the famous one-to-four rule of LaLiga. He needed one more move and has used Umtiti to renew his contract by reducing his salary. The combination of the two elements opens the door to Ferran’s inscription.