MADRID —
Barcelona extended
Samuel Umtiti’s contract until 2026 on Monday, a deal that creates
enough space in the club’s budget to register
Ferran Torres, their new signing
from
Manchester City.
اضافة اعلان
Torres has been unavailable to play for
Barca since joining two weeks ago because registering the striker would mean
falling foul of La Liga’s spending restrictions.
Umtiti’s three-year extension means his wages
will be spread over a longer period of time, which in turn reduces the amount
Barcelona are due to pay in the current financial year.
Barcelona also said “the French defender is
reducing a part of the salary that he was due to receive in the year and half
remaining on his contract”.
The club added: “This contract extension
does not entail any greater financial commitments for FC Barcelona with regard
to the player.”
The extension came as a surprise given
Barcelona have been trying to sell Umtiti to help reduce the club’s debts of
more than a billion euros. His previous contract was worth around 18 million
euros per year.
Barca’s spending limit this season is just
under 98 million euros but they are significantly over-budget, with La Liga
rules stating they can spend only 25 percent of any savings made as a result.
Umtiti was once a key player for the
Catalans but his career has taken a downward turn due to a string of injuries
and he has long-been on the fringes of the first team.
But the 28-year-old’s unexpected renewal
means Torres is finally eligible to play for Barca.
“Through this contract extension, FC
Barcelona will be able to increase its ‘financial fair play’ quota and thus
register Ferran Torres with Spanish Football League,” the club said.
But Torres, who joined for 55 million euros
from City on December 28, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will need to
return a negative test to make his debut in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi
Arabia this week.
Barcelona play
Real Madrid in the
semi-finals on Wednesday and the winners will face either Atletico Madrid or
Athletic Bilbao in the final on Sunday.
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