Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham have received a boost in their pursuit of Sporting CP defensive sensation Maximiliano Araujo.
Just weeks after insisting that he would continue at Sporting CP, Maximiliano Araujo has opened the door to a potential exit with his latest comments following Uruguay’s 2-2 draw against Cape Verde in matchday 2 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The 26-year-old full-back, who bagged a goal and an assist in that fixture and took his tally to three goal contributions in two outings, seems open to the idea of leaving the club in the near future.
While speaking to Portuguese radio Antena 1 via Sport Witness, Araujo said, “I am very happy at Sporting, but you never know what will happen.”
After another standout performance for the South American giants, he also spoke warmly about his Sporting team-mate Ivan Fresenda, who is in Miami before the game to support him.
The 26-year-old added, “I was happy to speak with Fresneda, I am grateful he was here and I love playing with him. I hope we can play together for a long time.”
While he did leave the door open regarding his future, the manner in which he spoke about Fresneda and his desire to continue playing with him suggested that he is still quite invested in the club.
Why are the Premier League clubs after Araujo?
Araujo’s statement has certainly come as a massive boost for Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham, who have been linked with him for a while now. The Red Devils consider him an ideal long-term replacement for Luke Shaw, who has struggled with injuries of late.
Meanwhile, at Chelsea, he could replace Marc Cucurella, who has left the club to join Real Madrid. Spurs already have Djed Spence, Souza, and Destiny Udogie in their ranks; as a result, a move for Araujo won’t make sense, especially after signing Andrew Robertson.
Araujo is considered an ideal fit for all three clubs as he has a relentless defensive work rate, blistering pace and keeps making high-intensity attacking runs. He would be a perfect addition, and the change in his stance certainly boosts their chances.
A few weeks ago, Araujo insisted that he wanted to stay and play in the Champions League, but after his heroics at the World Cup, his stance has altered a touch, and with the interest in his services at an all-time high, things could happen in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, Sporting have no intention of losing him this summer, but the increasing interest suggests they could find it very difficult. For now, they will hold out on his €80 million release clause, while they also remain open to the idea of handing him a new deal.
