Barcelona have already contacted €100 million centre-back to start renewal talks
If recent reports are to be believed, Barcelona will need to sell players in excess of €100 million if they want to return to the 1:1 rule in La Liga this summer transfer window.
Barcelona have a fair few players that could be sold for that price, and perhaps even more, including midfield trio Pedri, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong. Lamine Yamal also carries a heavy price tag, but has been rightly deemed ‘untouchable’ alongside Pedri, Gavi, and another superstar.
That is not Frenkie de Jong, though. It is third-captain Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan centre-back has been on the radar of Bayern Munich, who are desperate to integrate him into their side, and are even ready to pay €100 million for his signature.
Fortunately, though, Barcelona are not ready to sell him as early as this summer. In fact, they want to renew his contract, which expires in 2026.
The club believe that Araujo can form a long-lasting centre-back partnership with 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi, and that their profiles suit each other. Perhaps more than Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen.
If reports from Fernando Polo are to be believed, Barcelona have already contacted Araujo’s agent over a renewal. They presumably want to seal his extension before the 2024/25 season begins, even though the player is in no hurry.
In fact, reports even claimed that Bayern Munich believed that Araujo was leaning towards joining them in January, even though he said otherwise in interviews.
“In all markets there is talk of transfers. But I’m focused on the club, I’m happy. And I always give my best when it’s my turn to defend this shirt,” Araujo had said last month ahead of the Spanish Super Cup.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Araujo is one of Barcelona’s fundamental pillars for their next project, and that even €100 million offer will not be able to tempt them. Or would it?
