France international Samuel Umtiti explains why he came to Lecce to renew his enthusiasm for football after ‘four years of being imprisoned at Barcelona.’

The 29-year-old defender was purchased from Olympique Lyonnais in 2016 for €25m with the aim of becoming a rock in their back line, but things soured fairly quickly.

He was eventually loaned out for one season to newly-promoted Serie A side Lecce, who are now battling to keep their place in the Italian top flight.

“It felt like four years of being imprisoned at Barcelona, not just on a sporting level, but in my everyday life too,” Umtiti told Canal+ in France.

“I was really in a bad way, I preferred to stay out of everyone’s way. At the start I felt good and performed at a high level, but then I started to feel some diffidence towards me and realised then that nobody believed in me anymore.”

A contract termination was suggested, but instead Umtiti took the loan move to Lecce and has made 23 Serie A appearances so far this season.

“It was a challenge for me, I needed to feel appreciated, respected and just useful. I know that securing safety from relegation isn’t the same as winning a title, but I am grateful to Lecce, because I rediscovered my smile here.”

If Lecce do manage to stay in Serie A, would Umtiti like to remain or return to Barcelona?

“Right now I am only thinking about Lecce and I am concentrated on securing safety.”

Lecce are on 33 points, followed by Spezia with 31 and Verona 30, so the final spot in Serie B is between these three teams with two rounds still to be played.

Cremonese and Sampdoria are already mathematically relegated after dismal campaigns.

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