Barcelona’s optimism surrounding the long-term future of Ronald Araujo has decreased amid his links with Chelsea and Manchester United.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Ronald Araujo might not be a Barcelona player beyond the summer transfer window. Talks between the 25-year-old and the Blaugrana over a new contract have not progressed. Meanwhile, his suitors, including Chelsea and Manchester United, can offer him and Barcelona a lot of money to turn their heads.
How has Ronald Araujo fared at Barcelona?
Ronald Araujo is one of the best defenders in the world. A native of Rivera, he spent most of his formative years in Uruguay before graduating from the CA Rentistas youth division. Barcelona signed the Uruguayan international in 2018, although he needed to bide his time before becoming a regular for the Blaugrana.
The 25-year-old has turned out 150 times thus far for Barcelona, chipping in with eight goals and five assists. Araujo’s progress at the Catalan club has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile outfits across Europe. These teams are ready to take advantage of Barcelona’s crippling financial situation to secure his services in the summer transfer window.
Widespread reports have linked the Uruguayan defender with Bayern Munich, with Die Roten keen on signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window. However, Premier League bigwigs, including Chelsea and Manchester United, are also interested in the Barcelona defender. These outfits can offer him substantially more money than the Blaugrana.
Premier League calls?
Chelsea’s interest in Ronald Araujo is understandable. The Blues are parting ways with Thiago Silva as a free agent in the coming weeks. In addition, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile face an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge. So, it behoves Chelsea to invest in a top-class centre-back, with the Barcelona defender emerging as a viable target.
As for Manchester United, they will witness the departure of Raphael Varane, while Jonny Evans faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford. So, Araujo is an option worth considering, with Manchester United ready to offer the Barcelona defender lucrative wages.
The report has claimed that the Catalan giants are not optimistic about keeping hold of Araujo due to the money his suitors can offer them and the player. So, it will be interesting to see if the 25-year-old embarks on a new adventure in the summer transfer window.
