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OFFICIAL/ He refused surgery and injuries "blocked him", Umtiti retires from football

2025-09-15 20:47:00, Sport CNA

OFFICIAL/ He refused surgery and injuries "blocked him", Umtiti

Samuel Umtiti, one of France's most popular defenders and part of the team that was declared world champion in 2018, has decided to end his career at the age of just 31. His decision comes after many difficult years, filled with recurring injuries, which did not allow him to continue at the highest levels of football.

He had a contract with Lille in the French championship, but during the last two seasons he managed to play only 13 games, due to persistent knee problems. In a post published on social networks, Umtiti wrote that after a career full of successes and challenges, the time had come to say goodbye.

His career culminated in France's victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Umtiti formed a strong defensive partnership with Varane and was instrumental in the semi-final against Belgium, where he scored the only goal of the match to send France to the final.

In that competition, he played six matches and was one of the main figures of the French success. With his national team, he collected a total of 31 appearances, but after the World Cup he encountered problems with injuries. In recent years, he has been activated only six times for France. Coach Deschamps publicly praised him, emphasizing that Umtiti's contribution was irreplaceable for the 2021 World Cup.

Even with the Barcelona shirt, Umtiti had an important career. He played 133 games over seven years with the Catalans, winning seven trophies, including two consecutive La Liga titles. However, in the 2017-18 season he began to face serious knee problems.

Although doctors advised him to undergo surgery, he decided not to have the operation to help Barcelona and France, playing through pain. This decision affected his physical condition and he never managed to return to his former form. After 2018, he never exceeded the figure of 18 matches per season with Barcelona, ??despite various medical treatments.

In 2022, Umtiti was loaned to Serie A side Lecce, where he struggled to find space. A year later, his contract with Barcelona was terminated, although he still had three years left. A move to Lille did not bring any changes, as physical problems again prevented him from playing regularly. After a long period of difficulties, he decided to finally end his career.

In his message, Umtiti did not forget to thank the clubs he played for, his managers, coaches and teammates. He stressed that he had always given his best and that he did not regret anything from his journey.