SAMUEL UMTITI wants Barcelona to match the big-money offer Manchester United put on the table before signing a new deal with his current club, according to reports.
Jose Mourinho’s side were willing to pay the France defender £103,000 a week after tax and activate his £53.4million release clause in the January window, say Sport.
It is further claimed Barca officials acted quickly once they became aware of United’s interest.
They are believed to have given him their word on a new contract – his current one ends in 2021 – being forthcoming.
Sport say Umtiti’s agent has been contacted in a bid to tie his man down on a new deal until 2023 or 2024.
Umtiti has developed into a reliable presence at the Nou Camp following his summer arrival from Lyon in 2016.
The goal is to get him to put pen to paper and follow in the footsteps of Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto.
And Barca chiefs want it done before the World Cup.
The thinking behind that is Umtiti could pick up more suitors should France have a big showing in Russia this summer.
Manchester United’s offer is believed to be forcing the hand of Barca bosses, who had reportedly not banked on having to pay Umtiti quite so much.
However, it is claimed there is still “a long way to go” before Umtiti agrees to stay put.
The 24-year-old has 14 caps for France and started his career at Lyon before sealing the move to Catalonia.
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