Umtiti’s journey began at Lyon, where he quickly stood out as a composed and intelligent defender. His impressive development earned him a move to Barcelona in 2016, where he initially flourished under Luis Enrique. He became a regular starter, praised for his ability to play out from the back, and established himself as one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs.
However, his fortunes changed soon after he won the World Cup with France in 2018. Persistent knee problems restricted his playing time, leaving him sidelined for long spells at Barca. Despite attempts to recover, he was never able to regain his best form. After a final stint with Lille, Umtiti made the difficult decision to retire this week, saying his body could no longer cope with the demands of the game.
For now, Umtiti is preparing for coaching qualifications while also stepping into punditry, joining DAZN’s Serie A coverage.
Despite his early retirement, Umtiti is already planning his future. “I’m so passionate, I watch every match. I know I’m going to get my diplomas in the next few weeks. It’s going to take a few years, but being a coach is the ultimate goal I’ll set for myself,” he explained on OLTV. He added that his “inspiration” will come from “a bit of everything” he has learned throughout his career, underlining his passion to stay connected to football.
The pinnacle of Umtiti’s career came in Russia, where he played a central role in France’s World Cup triumph. Partnering Raphael Varane, he started six games and scored the decisive goal in the semi-final against Belgium. That header booked France’s place in the final, where they went on to beat Croatia.
