Ronald Araujo is going through a very difficult period. Captain in the Champions League a week ago, he endured a dramatic night at Chelsea: booked for dissent and then sent off after a tackle on Cucurella. Reduced to ten men, Barça collapsed 0–3.
Ronald Araujo is not doing well. His absence against Alavés — initially attributed to stomach issues — was actually hiding a deep personal distress. Hansi Flick confirmed he was “not ready to play,” referring to a “private situation.”
Araujo Steps Back as Barcelona Seeks Solutions
According to Marca and Mundo Deportivo, his agents met with Barça to find solutions to help him overcome this period. Araujo himself asked to step away temporarily to rebuild mentally, and the club agreed. No return date has been set, the priority being to pull him out of this downward spiral. But he may never play football again.
“Luis Enrique exposed Araujo to the entire world”
His entourage also points to Luis Enrique’s criticisms, revealed in a 2024 Movistar documentary (which also included the famous Mbappé sequence). The PSG coach stated: “Araujo is a world-class player, but he’s the one who has the most problems with the ball. Every time Araujo receives it, we have to block the passing lane and try to win it back.”
In the return leg, Araujo was also sent off after losing the ball, contributing to Barça’s 4–1 defeat. “Luis Enrique exposed Araujo to the whole world with his comments,” his relatives regret. They add: “Ronald has realized for months that, although he is 100% physically, he’s not able to deliver on the pitch what Barça expects from him. Stamford Bridge was the last straw, and he now needs to rebuild his mindset as if it were just another muscle.”
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