There is no secret that Barcelona is looking to replace the void that Luis Suárez has left behind, a role that previously has been possessed by players like Eto’o, Ibrahimovic and Henry. But they are also looking for a left-footed centerback to replace Umtiti, whom the club wants to sell this coming summer.
The story of Umtiti is unfortunately a tragic one. The French defender was intended to be Carles Puyol’s replacement, but his bad luck with injuries has put a hold on that development, and Barcelona now sees him more a burden than an asset.
To replace him this summer, one player they want in is Eric García, a former Barça academy player who has spent the past couple of years at Manchester City. He will be a free transfer this summer and the Catalan club are looking positively at his return to the club. However, they are also looking for someone to strengthen the defense where Araujo, Lenglet, Piqué and Mingueza are the only sure options for the first time. The second one is the only left foot and the third is already 34 years old, and even though he might be available to play a couple of more years, the injuries are taking a toll on him.
Soon we are going to have to accept that the magic Barcelona era from a decade ago soon will be over. However, the future is looking bright and the club is rebuilding from scratch, especially with the new youngsters getting more playing time.
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