Tomorrow’s El Clásico will mark a highly anticipated farewell for some Barcelona players who have already made the decision to leave, hoping to bid farewell to the fans by winning the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper ‘‘El Nacional‘‘, among these players is Ronald Araujo, who is expected to start on the bench. However, coach Hansi Flick may surprise everyone by deploying him at left-back to replace the injured Alejandro Balde.
Gerard Martin’s performances have not been convincing in important matches, which could prompt Flick to rely on a more experienced and influential player in the squad, such as the Uruguayan defender. However, the fact remains that Araujo, even if all options are available, will be forced to accept a secondary role, as has been the case throughout the season, due to injuries that have affected his performances and his declining form.
Since Xavi Hernandez announced his resignation as coach, Araujo has become a regular substitute, making him one of the most prominent names expected to leave Camp Nou in the upcoming transfer window. He was close to leaving the club during the winter transfer window, having reached a nearly final agreement with Juventus, before he reversed his decision and signed a contract extension with Barcelona.
While this extension appeared to have settled the controversy surrounding his future, it was part of a management strategy devised by Joan Laporta and Deco to increase his market value. In fact, there is no need to sell him immediately, as his current contract runs until 2026, with an extension until 2030. This clause allows him to negotiate with other clubs if the club receives an offer of up to €65 million, a value the player has been rated at, despite his recent decline in form.
It appears that coach Hansi Flick has already made his decision, including Araujo on the list of players expected to leave, making way for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who is expected to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
All indications suggest that Araujo’s days at Camp Nou are numbered…