Barcelona (AFP) – France defender Samuel Umtiti shared his sorrow with the mourning households of the sufferers of the first-class terror assault as he turned into officially presented as a Barcelona participant on Friday.
“even if it’s a happy day for me, I’m complete of disappointment,” Umtiti stated at a press conference, just a day after Thursday’s truck attack at the French riviera town which killed at least 84 human beings.
“There have been lots of sufferers, I’m very unhappy for all the families who have been laid low with what took place the day gone by.”
The convention turned into preceded by means of a minute’s silence at the Camp Nou in honour of the sufferers, with round 50 more human beings nonetheless combating for his or her lives.
Barcelona on Tuesday concluded a deal really worth 25 million euros ($27.7 million) to sign Umtiti from Lyon on a 5-yr deal.
The 22-12 months-old said it became a “childhood dream” to wear the Barcelona shirt.
“when I knew there was this possibility to come to this super membership I had a whole lot of feelings, I openly shed a few tears,” he admitted. “It’s definitely a dream to be at this club.
“I knew all of the gamers, the style of play. I recognise almost the entirety about this club even if I wasn’t round.”
Umtiti made his international debut in France’s area-final victory over Iceland at Euro 2016, retaining his place for the subsequent two video games as the hosts misplaced 1-0 to Portugal within the very last.
But, he will face stiff opposition for playing time at Barcelona from Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and France team-mate Jeremy Mathieu.
But Umtiti insisted the assignment will spur him on.
“I want this opposition, I know it, and here there’s lots greater competition,” he stated.
“I’m equipped for that, I’m here to enhance at the entirety and enhance with these gamers who are greater skilled than me. But i’ve lofty aims, I don’t need to hide, I’m a participant, I’m a competitor.”