Barcelona €70 million-rated defender clears the air on future amid exit rumours

Over the past few months there has been relentless speculation surrounding the future of Barcelona defender and third captain Ronald Araujo.

The 25-year-old Uruguayan international has been a target for Bayern Munich since the January transfer window and the Bavarians remain keen on the centre-half heading into the summer.

As far as Barcelona are concerned, the club’s sporting director Deco and club president Joan Laporta have made it abundantly clear that Araujo is not for sale and that they wish to extend his contract.

Araujo happy at Barcelona

Araujo, for his part, has always maintained that he is happy and focused at Barcelona despite all the rumours and speculations.

And, during an interview with La Quinta Tribuna (h/t SPORT), the Uruguayan international once again reiterated the same, insisting that he is happy and comfortable at the Catalan club.

“There has been a lot of talk about this, but I’m happy at Barcelona. Besides, we have to finish the season well because there are still challenges ahead, including the Copa America with Uruguay,” said the defender.

Araujo’s contract with Barcelona runs out in 2026 and the club are eager to hand him an extension, although the situation is proving tricky due to their iffy financial situation.

However, the defender seems happy and settled at the club and given that he is one of the captains, an exit seems unlikely.

Araujo on Uruguayan national team

During the interview, Araujo also discussed the state of the Uruguayan national team under the new management of Marcelo Bielsa as they continue to prepare for the Copa America in the summer.

“Physically I’m fine, I’m a bit tired because of the important games we’ve played with Barcelona, but I’m fine and ready to learn what Marcelo Bielsa wants to tell us, basically to adjust details for the Copa America,” he said.

“The training sessions are important to test what the coach asks of us.”

Further discussing what Bielsa asks of the team, he added: “He has insisted on tactics, but he also wants intensity, movement, closing, when to jump to the mark, when not to, when to play out from the back, to be protagonists, how we connect with the midfielders? A bit of everything.”

On the competition to win the Copa America, Araujo said: “There are many rivals, and very tough ones, such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador…. It will be an intense and competitive Copa América. It will be decided by details.”

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication