Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti did specific training apart from the group today, and Diario AS reports it is due to his knee problems. Even more ominously, the report says that the idea that Umtiti will not return this season cannot be ruled out.

The player has missed huge chunks of this season due to knee troubles, although he has up to this point avoided getting surgery.

It’s looking like he might get the operation done this summer, but no one knows for sure.

The report says the team is unsure when Umtiti will be back to playing shape, and no one wants to make an optimistic prediction. The last time he was unable to play, he missed four months before his return.