- Samuel Umtiti grabbed the badge as Barcelona overcame Roma at Camp Nou
- The French defender’s strike deflected in off Kostas Manolas to make it 2-0
- Rampant Barcelona took on Roma in a Champions League quarter-final first leg
- Umtiti has been linked with a summer move away to join Manchester United
Samuel Umtiti showed he remains firmly committed to Barcelona as he seized the moment in the Champions League to prove his love to the fans.
Striking towards goal with Barcelona 1-0 up against Roma in the Champions League quarter-finals, Umtiti’s strike was deflected in by Kostas Manolas for an own-goal to make it 2-0.
Racing off in celebration, the French defender grabbed the badge and admitted in his post match interview that it was done to show how much he loves the Catalan club.
Samuel Umtiti grabbed the Barcelona badge in celebration in the Champions League win
The 24-year-old has been linked with a move but wanted to show fans his love for the club
Umtiti’s strike against Roma on Wednesday was deflected in off defender Kostas Manolas
‘I wanted to say that I love this club. I have not much more to add,’ Umtiti told beIN Sports.
‘I just play, squeeze myself and do well. That is the most important thing for me. Do it in a club like Barca, that’s what I try and try to keep doing.
‘Afterwards, the rest are things that come out in the press, some true and some false, but I focus on football.’
Umtiti had plenty of reasons to celebrate on Wednesday evening as he and his team-mates put one foot in the semi-finals with a resounding 4-1 victory.
Goals from Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique were preceded by two own goals as the Catalan giants target their first final since 2014-15 – but for Umtiti, the questions refuse to evaporate around his future.
The celebration was to show ‘I love this club’, the Frenchman insisted after the 4-1 home win
Barcelona are aiming for their first Champions League final since 2014-15 when they won it
The Frenchman has been linked with a move away from the La Liga leaders this summer with a host of sides across Europe – including Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United – interested.
The 24-year-old has impressed under Ernesto Valverde this season and ahead of the 4-1 first leg win over Roma, the Barcelona manager looked to ease speculation by insisting the French defender is ‘happy’ in Spain.
‘My understanding is that he is happy here; we certainly are with him, and we hope that he stays here for many years,’ he told Spanish publication AS.
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