Ronald Araújo is once again in the eye of the storm just days before a crucial date. The Uruguayan center-back has until July 15 to decide whether he will stay or take the final step. His release clause will jump from €60 million ($65 million) to €1 billion ($1,080,000,000), a difference that changes everything.
The sporting management is trying to keep calm amid a scenario of contained tension and imminent decisions. Deco insists the player is not for sale, but the club doesn't have the final say. If a team pays the clause before that date, the operation will be automatic and irreversible.
In Turin, they are closely following this unique market opportunity that could change two locker rooms in a matter of days. Juventus is determined to step on the gas and trigger Araújo's clause without the need to negotiate. The Italian club considers it a strategic signing that fits with its immediate sporting project.
The sacrifice of a rock to build a new attacking flank
At Camp Nou, they assume that losing Araújo would be painful, but it could open an unexpected door. Hansi Flick believes the center-back is not essential within the system he wants to implement this season. His profile fits better with the previous era and less with the high-pressing line Flick wants to impose.
The coaches, together with the sporting management, have already activated the alternative plan if his departure is finalized this summer. With €60 million ($65 million) available, the priority will be to strengthen the attack with a young, direct, and goal-scoring profile. The name that is gaining the most traction in the club's offices already plays, precisely, for Juventus.
Kenan Yildiz is the piece that excites the new coaching staff, convinced he can make a difference. The young Turkish winger has broken out this season in Serie A with decisive performances on both flanks. His ability to break lines, link up, and finish in front of goal makes him a highly desired gem.
The signing that could revitalize an attack showing signs of fatigue
Barça has been searching for such a profile for months, but after Nico Williams's rejection, everything became complicated. The Yildiz operation would involve an investment of around €50 million ($54 million), an affordable figure if money comes in for Araújo. The management believes the move would be balanced both financially and sportingly.
Flick has reiterated in several internal meetings that he needs a winger with dribbling, speed, and goal-scoring ability as soon as possible. The German coach believes the attacking system can't depend exclusively on the young talents from the academy. That's why signing the Turkish player would be a firm step toward a more competitive squad.
The Turkish player would also be delighted to make the leap to LaLiga to establish himself as a European star. His agent has been informed of the interest and would not put up obstacles if the Uruguayan defender's departure is formalized. The operation, therefore, presents itself as a double move that could be solved in just a week.
The fans, divided between loyalty to the badge and the desire for a new project
The Barça community is living with uncertainty over this possible covert swap involving two completely opposite profiles. For many, Araújo represents the club's values: commitment, identity, courage, and absolute loyalty to the badge. Others believe his sale would allow the start of a new era more aligned with Flick's attacking soccer.
The defender's departure would allow the accounts to be balanced, free up wage bill, and activate new market targets. The player currently earns about €7 million ($7.6 million) gross per season, a figure not everyone considers sustainable. If his departure is finalized, the management would have more room to act in different areas.
Meanwhile, the club is closely watching Juventus's moves, which are already working with very tight deadlines. If they trigger the clause before July 15, Araújo will leave without the club being able to react. At that very moment, Kenan Yildiz's name would move to the forefront of the Barça market.
Everything now depends on a fax, a signature, and a clause that is about to expire. The Uruguayan could be the first to fall in this hectic summer that already threatens to shake the foundations. Deep down, the feeling is clear: if he leaves, it will be to finance the signing Hansi Flick desires most.