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Barça plans to meet with his agents shortly to finalise his continuity with a formula that will make the centre-back feel comfortable between now and the summer.
FC Barcelona wants Ronald Araujo (25 years old) to stay at the club for many years. However, they have had to make a significant effort in recent days to change his position of leaving in this winter market.
The Uruguayan defender had decided to ask to leave Barça because he was not sure that he would have the role he wanted under Hansi Flick, given the great moment of the Cubarsí-Iñigo duo and the club's interest in signing the German centre-back Jonathan Tah. That is why he hesitated to stay and asked the club to listen to Juventus, who want him to reinforce their defence, affected by several absences.
Barça, seeing the danger that there was, moved quickly. As sporting director, Deco spoke to him last Tuesday night to tell him that the club did not want to sell him, that they trusted him, that they wanted to renew his contract and that the best thing for all parties was for him to stay, at least, until the end of the season. He was also told that, if he was thinking about leaving, it was better for him to wait for a long transfer window like the summer transfer window, where he could have more variety of offers, than to accept the best that came his way in a short and restrictive transfer window like the January transfer window, which barely lasts a month. The player, who had been very clear about leaving, reconsidered after this conversation and also after having spoken with Hansi Flick and many of his teammates, who also asked him to stay.
On Tuesday night, Araujo softened his stance towards Barça and on Wednesday, talks continued with the club in the sense of tying down his continuity at least until the summer and also extending his contract. In this sense, FC Barcelona wants to be understanding with Araujo's concern and although it wants to extend his current contract (which ends in 2026) for five more years, it also wants to give the Uruguayan the option of having room to maneuver. In other words, for this renewal, formulas are being studied so that Ronald, in case he is not happy between now and the end of the season, can have some leverage to be able to be the master of his future and so that both he and the club can be satisfied in case he considers leaving again next summer. At the moment, both parties are thinking positively and the atmosphere in the team is spectacular, but between now and June, a lot can happen, positive or negative.
The next step to seal the second captain's continuity must be taken with a meeting held by representatives of Barça, with the sure presence of Deco, with his representatives, who are expected in Barcelona shortly. They already know what the player and the club have agreed and now it is a matter of putting it into documents that safeguard and guarantee the room for manoeuvre of the club and the player regarding the duration of the extension and the termination clause of the new contract, always leaving him the option of reconsidering his situation in the summer if he is not comfortable.
Barça wants to be understanding with a player who has always shown a high degree of commitment, who is the second captain, who has suffered serious injuries and who is highly appreciated in the dressing room. Hence the flexible formulas that they are proposing to him in his new contract, but always with the intention that he continues because they consider him a very important asset to the squad and a player to lead, together with others such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Olmo and Cubarsí, a new winning project.
See You soon!
Posted Using INLEO
