If Ronald Araujo wants to hold Barcelona to ransom then it’s time to say goodbye

The life of a professional footballer can take many twists and turns and for a variety of reasons, some of which are not always expected.

Twelve months or so ago, myself along with many others here and elsewhere were confident that Ronald Araujo was emerging as a true great at the heart of Barcelona’s central defence. Perhaps even the best natural centre-back the club have had since Carles Puyol.

Fast forward to the latter half of the 2023/24 campaign and the mistake against Paris Saint-Germain was the nadir of a season which promised much from the Uruguayan but largely wasn’t delivered.

Could it be that the tactics, training and understanding from a group of backroom staff that in hindsight couldn’t really class themselves as elite, was to blame? Perhaps.

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Xavi too would do well to look inwards in that regard.

He will always be remembered with fondness by Culers for his playing exploits, but not so much his coaching acumen.

In any event, the buck still stops with the player himself, and our ‘Uruguayo’ was well below par in the more important matches.

I don’t subscribe to the narrative that we’ve already seen his peak because with the right technical staff behind the first team at Barça, there’s every reason to believe that he can still become one of the greats.

However, news that he’s effectively holding the club to ransom leaves a sour taste indeed, and that’s not welcome at the club.

It’s understood that Araujo will be out of action for around four months. Conservatively back in action by early to mid-December.

Somewhat understandably, Barça have looked at the possibilities and are considering not registering the player again until January as this loophole of sorts would allow the club to register everyone else and get back to the 1:1 scenario where Financial Fair Play is concerned.

News on social media suggests that Araujo isn’t entirely happy with that situation and that he is “considering his future” and open to “all possibilities.”

There’s no way that kind of language is released into the public domain unless authorised by the player himself, and at a time when the club still needs all of their players pulling in the same direction, he is seemingly drawing the battle lines.

Perhaps rumours earlier in the summer that the club could consider his sale have finally got to him, however, effectively giving Barça the bird really isn’t the way to go about things.

No thank you.