http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 youngster, Samuel Umtiti’s rise has been rapid to say the least. Naturally, Remi Garde wants to keep the new hope of French football at Stade de Gerland as soon as possible
In recent weeks, Les Gones faithful have become accustomed to seeing a tall figure in the centre of defence. Though everything is far from perfect, the signs showed by 18-year-old Samuel Umtiti are encouraging. The youngster has done admirably.
Coach Remi Garde has once again showed his keenness on putting his faith on youth. In the last five games, the teenager has marshalled the defence brilliantly following the club’s injury crisis.
However, everything is not as rosy as it seems. The recent spotlight means that Lyon are in the danger of losing Umtiti since Jean-Michel Aulas’s young player does not have a pro contract yet.
An uncomfortable situation that OL plan to resolve quickly before the vultures descend. Asked by Lyon Capital over the youngster’s future, his agent Frederic Guerra allayed fears by revealing that the protégée will be signing a three-year contract at the
club today.
This is certainly a fine reward for a player who has found his footing at Lyon despite his age.
Umtiti knows that he has a lot to do especially as he hasn’t followed the traditional path many young players of his age do.
“It’s a bit new to me. I skipped CFA world which is very different. I realise this now. When I arrived in the group, I was shy and I did not speak too much. The coach asked me to take more responsibility and I managed to do more,” said Umtiti who is still
not accustomed to the new found status.
By trusting on such a young player, Olympique Lyonnais have confirmed their next strategy. Highlighting the best talent at the academy and then slowly putting them in first team is what Lyon are doing. The likes of Maxime Gonalons, Clement Grenier and Alexandre
Lacazette have already received raving reviews and it’s now Umtiti’s turn to come into the spotlight.
A new talent has become a regular under Remi Garde and it seems that more may follow suit.
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