With the arrival of summer, we once again find ourselves facing the same situation as every year; no player under contract wants to leave Barcelona. Life in the Catalan capital is very pleasant, the weather is nice, there's a beach in the summer, and it offers all the comforts of a top city. That's why neither the players' families nor the players themselves want to hear about possible transfers. It doesn't matter if the current coach tells them that he doesn't count on them, it doesn't matter if they're the third or fourth option for the coach in a specific position, here at Can Barça, life is fabulous and they don't plan to leave the club under any circumstances.
This summer won't be any different. The need to raise funds is more evident than ever, since Joan García must be registered and, if his signing is eventually confirmed, so must Nico Williams. But nobody seems willing to leave to make room for the newcomers. Ter Stegen has already made it clear that he doesn't intend to abandon the Barça ship. Andreas Christensen also has no intention of putting himself on the transfer list. Those who do, like Ansu on loan to Monaco or Lenglet sealing his transfer to Atlético de Madrid, don't leave a single euro in the blaugrana coffers. So the chances of making a significant sale are minimal. There are many players with market value in the squad, but the vast majority are undisputed for Flick, which is why Ronald Araújo's name is one of the few that meets the requirements to be on the exit ramp over the next two months.
Ronald Araujo during a training session | @FCBarcelona
The Uruguayan hasn't had his best season as a Barcelona player. An injury in the last Copa América forced him to undergo surgery, causing him to miss the first four months of the season (4 months). When he started to be included in the squad lists, he ran into the Iñigo - Cubarsí duo, a pair of center-backs who've amazed everyone. This, combined with the difficulties the Uruguayan has in playing the ball out from the back, quickly led to him being labeled as a "backup center-back". In addition, Araújo appeared in the picture for two of the four goals that Barça conceded at the Giuseppe Meazza in the Champions League semifinals, goals that ultimately meant the elimination of the blaugrana side when they were already savoring a place in the final, and which made him the target of criticism from the fans.
The Uruguayan center-back already had the chance to sign for Juventus a few months ago. He decided to renew. But Juventus's interest is still alive today. In a World Cup year, being a substitute can be very costly. That's why Araújo, knowing that he'll find it very difficult to be a starter in Flick's Barça, might see a change of scenery in a positive light. At Juve, he won't be as exposed, with a more withdrawn defense than the one Barça deploys, allowing him to defend inside the box, where Ronald is a powerhouse. He also won't be asked to be outstanding in playing the ball out from the back, as is demanded at Barcelona. His market value is €35 million (35 million euros) according to Transfermarkt, but the Italian side would be willing to pay a higher amount. So, while waiting for offers for other footballers, it seems clear that the best option to raise funds and avoid registration problems is to try to sell Araújo. It won't be easy, but it shouldn't be impossible either.
