Former French defender Samuel Umtiti gave an interview to the Italian website "La Gazzetta dello Sport," during which he talked about his experience with Lecce, touched on the difficult period he went through at Barcelona, and revealed his desire to enter the world of coaching after retiring from football.

Umtiti said, "I was feeling lonely; I didn't want to talk to anyone."

He continued: "At the same time, I was dealing with injuries and played little, and if you are not in a good mental state, your body won't perform at its best, and your performance will be affected."

He added: "We must help players, who are often pushed into a harsh reality, and we must have the courage to admit when we are not okay."

Umtiti explained that his experience with Lecce was completely different, as he was warmly welcomed by a large crowd at the airport. He said, "I am a man of few words; my heart expresses itself better than my mouth. Perhaps those tears came straight from my heart. I was going through a difficult time, and people didn’t understand me. I needed genuine love, and the fans showed me that from the very first moment."

He continued: "After a long journey in three different leagues, I want to be a coach capable of enhancing players' individual skills."

He added, "The human aspect is very important; we must talk to the players and build an honest relationship with them to achieve the best results."

Umtiti concluded by emphasizing that his experience as a player will help him pass on his knowledge to the new generation of players: "I want to contribute to the comprehensive development of young players, both technically and mentally, just as I have learned throughout my career."