BARCELONA — Barcelona has signed center back Samuel Umtiti from Olympique Lyon for 25 million euros ($27.75 million), the La Liga winners said Tuesday.
The 22-year-old, who has signed a five-year contract, came through the Lyon youth system and earned his first cap for France in the European Championship quarterfinal against Iceland, which the host won 5-2.
“FC Barcelona have signed 22-year-old French international defender Samuel Umtiti from Olympique Lyonnais for the next five seasons,” the Spanish club said in a statement on its website (www.fcbarcelona.com). Umtiti made 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season to help Lyon finish second in the table, behind champion Paris St Germain.
West Ham pins 50m price tag on Payet
Dimitri Payet is worth not a penny less that 50 million pounds ($65.3 million), West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has said, but even that might not be enough to prise the France midfielder away from the London club.
Payet, who joined West Ham from Marseille in June last year, scored 12 goals in all competitions in his debut season in England and was instrumental in helping France reach the European Championship final, scoring three times.
His performances for club and country have prompted speculation about a possible move to Chelsea, Manchester City or Paris St Germain, but Gold said West Ham would be reluctant sellers even if someone matched the huge fee.
“We wouldn’t even listen to any offer under 50 million pounds and even then we need to keep our best players so we just don’t welcome any offers at all for Dimitri,” Gold told the BBC.
“He’s instrumental, he’s important to us, the team is built round him and he’s not for sale. He’s settled in London with this family, the fans adore him and we’re going to the Olympic Stadium.
“We’ve done everything we possibly could do. I’m hoping that will be enough (to keep him).”
Pogba may stay put at Juventus
Paul Pogba may stay put at Juventus despite talks about the French midfielder’s possible move to England or Spain, his agent Mino Raiola has said.
The 23-year-old Pogba, who played a pivotal role in France’s run to the Euro 2016 final, has been strongly linked with a return to English Premier League club Manchester United with Champions League winner Real Madrid also eyeing him.
However, a fee touted to be around a world record 100 million pounds ($130.65 million) could see Real priced out of a move for Pogba, according to British media reports.
“There is a lot of talk about Paul’s future, but maybe he will not leave Juventus,” Raiola told The Times.
