Flick demands the continuity of Ronald Araujo!

A change of scenery in the situation of Ronald Araujo. From being practically more out than in, to his continuity becoming a priority. Because this is how clear the new FC Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, has made it, for whom the Uruguayan center-back is a key piece in his project. He must be retained.

Hansi Flick has requested in his first meetings with the sports area that Ronald Araujo, who has a contract with the club until June 30, 2026, not be transferred, despite the multiple and powerful offers he has.

The German coach argued his decision on the fact that the Uruguayan is fundamental to his system, as he needs fast footballers with great corrective ability to practice a high line defense. Flick even went so far as to insinuate that if, due to the ‘overbooking’ in the defensive axis, the club had to sell another center-back, that he would go ahead, but that in no case would it be Ronald Araujo.

Negotiations will reopen

Once Flick has been heard, Barça has decided to reactivate some negotiations that had been frozen, as they had received very attractive offers that had placed him on the market. Leading European clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chelsea had shown great interest and were willing to bid very strongly and pay up to 80 million euros.

Figures that, obviously, the club was already happy with and a sale that even Xavi Hernández was willing to assume in recent times if the case arose, despite also being an important player for the Catalan, as evidenced by the 100 exact matches in which the former azulgrana coach has lined up the Uruguayan.

Barça has listened and understood Flick and rules out the defender’s departure, but now it is the Uruguayan footballer who has to take a step forward. Because in this ‘impasse’ in which his renewal was stalled, Ronald Araujo has felt criticized and singled out, especially after his expulsion at Montjuïc against Paris Saint-Germain which, in the end, meant the expulsion of the azulgranas.

Araujo, hurt

His priority until then was to continue at Barça and extend his contract, but he was hurt not to find the support he would have expected even from a part of the dressing room. And the Uruguayan went from wanting to continue to being willing to listen to the important offers that came to him for a change of scenery.

Now, the ball is somehow in Ronald Araujo’s court. The panorama has changed and there could be an agreement for his continuity, but the economic differences with which negotiations will resume remain significant.

From the moment Hansi Flick has been very explicit with Ronald Araujo, the club is working on a ‘timing’ in which it hopes to close an agreement during the next month of June. However, they are very aware of the difficulties of being able to register a new contractual situation for the player, because at present, they do not have the necessary fair play.