Barcelona will be without centre-back Gerard Pique for their trip to Eibar this weekend, as the Spaniard is suspended.
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This leaves manager Ernesto Valverde with somewhat of a selection headache, with Samuel Umtiti still facing a race to return to full-fitness.
The Frenchman is yet to feature for the Blaugrana this season and was ruled out of action after injuring his foot whilst away on international duty last month.
Spanish broadcaster CCMA (via 90min) claim that Umtiti could return to face Eibar, but nothing is guaranteed. And should he not return in time, this could potentially leave 19-year-old centre-half Jean-Clair Todibo as Valverde’s only fully-fit option to partner Clement Lenglet in the heart of defence.
The teenager started the Catalans’ 4-0 win over Sevilla prior to the international break and impressed by keeping a clean sheet; his only other appearance for the first-team this season came in the final four minutes of the La Liga champions’ win over Getafe in late-September.
Barca fans on Twitter have made it clear that they want to see more of Todibo, though, as shown by the Tweets below:
Has to be Todibo. No brainer.
— Ram Charan (@Ram__10) October 13, 2019
Don’t even try using Umtiti as a right centre back. It was a disaster the last time he played there. That position shld be in btwn Pique, Todibo. Both Umtiti, Lenglet can share the left centre back position
— Toffee Bammy (@ToffeeBammy) October 13, 2019
Todibo please
— Alt + Ctrl + De Ligt 💰 (@PopeZoi_) October 13, 2019
Todibo has to start umtiti has to wait until he is ready to play
— CJM (@Carlo34192851) October 13, 2019
Todibo must start
— KayGee32 (@Cash16723885) October 13, 2019
Umtiti just returns from injury todibo deserves this one
— CP-05 (@Ben_Beckmann090) October 13, 2019
Barca fans, would you like to see Todibo start against Eibar? Let us know by joining the discussion below…
