A club thought it was a "joke" when Barcelona offered Samuel Umtiti during a meeting, summing up the Frenchman's current situation.
Umtiti has played just one game in La Liga this season, playing 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Osasuna last weekend.
He's been deemed surplus to requirements at the Blaugrana but at the same time the club are struggling to get rid of him.
And one story has emerged showing just how difficult it is to negotiate a departure for the former Lyon defender.
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As per SPORT, when a Barca representative mentioned Umtiti's name as an available player in talks, the club official asked if it was a joke, in response.
Benfica have been linked with the 28-year-old but with it proving tricky to shift Umtiti off the wage bill, it's said Barca now feel their only option is to terminate his contract.
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His deal is due to expire in 2023 and he is believed to have failed to agree a reduction on his £208,000-per-week wages.
Barca paid £20 million for Umtiti in 2016 and he played 83 times in his first two seasons before his game-time dropped in the seasons that followed.
The two-time La Liga winner was unfancied by Ronald Koeman and is also not seen as part of Xavi Hernandez's plans at the Nou Camp.
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What's more, Barca fans have also turned on the centre-back.
He was loudly booed by supporters during the Joan Gamper trophy clash with Juventus back in August and skipped the club's trophy celebrations result.
And more recently, Umtiti confronted a section of fans who blocked his car - with one even climbing on the bonnet, as he exited the training ground.
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