Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti is reluctant to undergo surgery that could bring a premature end to his campaign, according to reports.

Umtiti, 25, has been dogged by injury throughout 2018/19 and has only made eight club appearances. A flare up in his longstanding knee problem caused him to sit out Wednesday’s 2-1 victory at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, sparking the club’s medical team to consider new treatment methods.

Mundo Deportivo have stated that the La Liga champions may decide to get the problem definitely sorted out with a surgical procedure that would mean a minimum four-month lay-off.

But this scenario does not currently appeal to the France international.