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Joan Laporta urges unwanted Barcelona duo to find new clubs

Laporta urges unwanted Barcelona duo to find new clubs
© Reuters
Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals that both Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite have been told to leave the club this summer.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that both Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite have been told to leave the Catalan giants during this summer's transfer window.

Umtiti still has another four years left to run on his contract, having penned a new deal in January, but he is not part of Xavi's plans moving forward.

The 28-year-old only made one La Liga appearance during the 2021-22 campaign, and he has been pushed further down the pecking order at the club this summer due to the arrivals of Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde.

Braithwaite has another two years left to run on his deal, meanwhile, but the Denmark international has also been told that he is not part of the club's plans for the future.

The 31-year-old started last season in impressive fashion, scoring twice and registering one assist in the campaign opener with Real Sociedad, but he hardly featured after returning from a serious knee injury, which kept him on the sidelines between the middle of September and the middle of January.

Denmark's Martin Braithwaite celebrates scoring their first goal against Bosnia on June 6, 2021© Reuters

"They (Umtiti and Braithwaite) have understood that the best thing is to go play for another team. Their contracts have always been respected, but the time has come when they have to take a step forward. This week they have to fix both of them," Laporta told reporters.

Braithwaite is believed to have recently told Barcelona that he wants the final two years of his contract paid up in order to agree to leave the club on a free transfer this summer.

The Denmark international moved to Barcelona from Leganes in February 2020, with the forward being allowed to move to Camp Nou as an emergency signing following the long-term injury to Ousmane Dembele.

The forward has represented the Catalan side on 57 occasions in all competitions, contributing 10 goals and five assists in the process.

However, after a bright start to the 2021-22 campaign, featuring in the team's first three league matches, he only played once more last term after returning from injury, appearing off the bench against Osasuna on March 13.

Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti pictured in February 10, 2021© Reuters

Umtiti moved to Barcelona in 2016 after an impressive spell with Lyon, and he was a key player for the Catalan outfit during his first two seasons at the club, making 83 appearances in total.

The centre-back has struggled with a number of injury problems in recent years, though, featuring on just 27 occasions in La Liga since the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

The Frenchman has won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey crowns and two Spanish Super Cups during his time at Camp Nou, representing the club on 133 occasions in all competitions.

Barcelona rounded off their preparations for the 2022-23 La Liga campaign with a 6-0 win over Pumas in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday, with Robert Lewandowski scoring his first goal for the club following his summer move from Bayern Munich.

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2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


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