Umtiti becomes the biggest mystery of world football

More than seven years after lifting the World Cup with France in Russia, Samuel Umtiti is back in the headlines for a different reason: the inexplicable obscurity of his career. Recent images of him leaving the Olympique Lyonnais training ground have fueled speculation about a future even more uncertain than the recent past.

From peak to abyss

In 2018, Umtiti was considered one of the best central defenders in the world. His header against Belgium in the World Cup semi-final made him a national hero, bringing his transfer value up to 70 million euros. Barcelona then considered him a treasure, a key piece to replace Gerard Piqué. But from that halo, everything quickly went downhill.

Persistent knee injuries sapped his stamina, and over time, his confidence and form gradually faded. Loan spells at Lecce and then Lille only revealed the truth: Umtiti was no longer himself. He fell into oblivion, absent from the big stages, and European football seemed to forget the once impregnable center-back.

What makes Umtiti’s story so difficult to understand is the absolute silence. He has virtually disappeared from the media, without any explanation about his physical condition or career decisions.

At 31, turning 32 next November, this should still be the prime of his life for an experienced centre-back. However, all fans have seen is Umtiti leaving the Lyon training ground, where he grew up and stepped into the spotlight.

The appearance immediately sparked rumours, with some believing he was considering a “last dance” with his former club, ending his career with a run where he started.

On the contrary, the French press claimed that Umtiti had already recorded a farewell video , just waiting for the release date. Some more extreme opinions asserted: he could have chosen to quietly withdraw, no announcement, no ceremony, just disappear.

A missed career

It is hard to believe that a player who was once at the top of the world could end his career in such a lackluster way. Umtiti’s career is a clear testament to the fragility of top-level football: one injury, one wrong decision in treatment, and a glorious path can collapse.

In Lyon, the place that launched him to Barcelona, fans are both hopeful and skeptical. Will Umtiti ever be seen in shorts and a numbered shirt again, or is this all just the last remnants of a career crushed by time and injury?

Samuel Umtiti - an unsolved mystery. Perhaps, for him, silence is the only way to retain some of the beautiful memories of a central defender who once stood at the top of the world.

Source: https://znews.vn/umtiti-tro-thanh-bi-an-lon-nhat-cua-bong-da-the-gioi-post1585227.html