Injuries are proving to be a major headache for Samuel Umtiti, especially as Barcelona are struggling in defence. With Pique as the latest loss, the Frenchman's return is urgently needed.

But the club wants to go step by step and without haste, so Umtiti played this Wednesday in a game with the subsidiary against Youth A to test himself and see how things went after more than five months without stepping on a pitch.

The newspaper 'AS' informed that the centre-back was seen performing well, although they did not demand too much from him, and that he had some outstanding defensive actions.

The Frenchman could finally be in the final stretch of his recovery and with the option of being able to perform without restrictions with the first team. However, the doctors and coaching staff now have the ball in their court to decide how and when to discharge Umtiti.

Barcelona will be playing against Cadiz this week and it could be an ideal moment to recover Umtiti for defensive fouls, so his presence is not ruled out after her examination with the subsidiary.