If there was a more passive-aggressive way for Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti to tell Tottenham Hotspur he’s uninterested in joining the club, then someone will have to spill the beans. The French starlet made it clear that while he is fond of what Mauricio Pochettino has done for the Spurs, he has other plans for his football future.
According to IBTimes via Telefoot, Umtiti revealed that he was aware of the club’s interest in him but stated that he believed he would be better suited to play in Spain for a club “like Barcelona” or “like Real (Madrid).”
“It is flattering that Pochettino is interested in me, he is a manager that I like and his team is performing well,” Umtiti said. “I want to finish this season well, that is my priority. I watch all the leagues but I think that the Spanish league suits me the best, in terms of my qualities. I like Barcelona as much as I like Real.”
It may be a moot point at any rate as the source stated that Lyon have no intentions of letting either Umtiti or star striker Alexandre Lacazette leave the club this summer. Lacazette is the No. 2 leading striker in Ligue 1 behind PSG megastar Zlatan Ibrahimovic with 18 goals.
Lyon need just one win in their last two games to clinch a spot in the Champions League and will likely want as many of their stars as possible when they head to Europe next year.
Barring the unforeseen though, Tottenham Hotspur will also be in the Champions League, so if those stars are eager for European football, they can get as much of it as they want at White Hart Lane.
Follow Jonathan Machlin on Twitter @jtmlovessports
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