Ronald Araujo is going through one of the darkest periods of his career. Just a few days ago, he was wearing the captain’s armband in the Champions League. But his nightmare at Chelsea — a yellow card for dissent, then a poorly timed tackle on Cucurella leading to his dismissal — changed everything. With ten men against eleven, Barcelona collapsed 3–0 at Stamford Bridge.
After this disaster, the defender’s condition worsened. His absence against Alavés, officially due to stomach issues, was in reality hiding a deep personal distress. Hansi Flick confirmed it: Araujo was “not ready to play” and was facing “a private situation.”
According to Marca and Mundo Deportivo, his representatives even went to the training center to meet with the management. The goal: to set up a plan to help the player get back on his feet. Araujo asked for a break to rebuild himself mentally, and Barça agreed. No return date has been set — and some fear he may not play again any time soon.
“Luis Enrique exposed Araujo in front of the whole world”
Within the player’s camp, one point keeps coming up: Luis Enrique’s criticism. In a Movistar documentary broadcast in 2024, the PSG coach said: “Araujo is a worldclass player, but he’s the one who has the most problems with the ball. Every time Araujo gets the ball, we have to block the passing lane and try to win it back.”
These remarks were widely discussed, especially since the second leg proved Enrique right: Araujo was sent off after losing the ball, in a 4–1 defeat that doomed Barça.
Speaking to ARA, people close to the defender did not mince words: “Luis Enrique exposed Araujo in front of the whole world with his statements,” adding: “Ronald has noticed for months that, although he is 100% fit physically, he is not able to deliver on the pitch what Barça expects from him. Stamford Bridge was the last straw, and now he must recover his mindset as if it were just another muscle.”
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