Top 5 Lyon academy graduates who are shining across Europe

#2 Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona)

Samuel Umtiti has been a rock at the back for FC Barcelona this season.

Samuel Umtiti began his football career with Lyon in 2012 and made 170 appearances for Les Gones before signing for FC Barcelona for €25 million in the summer of 2016.

Since his move to the Catalan giants, Umiti has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Europe and he is also a pivotal member of the French national team backline.

The Frenchman has started this season in excellent form and he has proved to be crucial in keeping Barcelona's unbeaten run intact in La Liga this season.

The 24-year-old defender is a powerhouse and makes his presence felt on the pitch. This season his quality performances have prompted to suggest that Samuel Umtiti might be the best central defender in La Liga.

He does impose his physicality on his opponents but he is definitely not a dirty player and his passing rate of 92% is one of his biggest assets which makes him so vital to Barcelona's style of play.

It can be very easily said that he is a complete defender and the only area he needs to work on is his goal scoring ability from set pieces.

His importance to FC Barcelona can be understood from the fact that the Catalan giants are prioritizing his contract renewal as his current contract has a release clause of €60 million, which has alerted the Manchester clubs to make a move for him.

It has been understood that €60 million in the current inflated market would be very cheap for a young player like Umtiti who at the age of 24 is yet to reach his peak.

Umiti represents FC Barcelona's future and it is likely that they will form their backline around him in near future.