Barça is having an impressive season, and they face the final phase with all the options to lift the three titles at stake. With Hansi Flick, the team has found a tactical solidity and a winning mentality that hadn't been seen in the blaugrana locker room for a long time. Barça reaches May alive in all competitions, exciting and showing that they are capable of competing at the highest level.
One of the keys to this great moment is the individual performance that Flick has managed to extract from his players, and cases like those of Lewandowski and De Jong are striking. The Polish forward, who started the season with doubts, has regained his goal-scoring instinct and his authority in the area. Meanwhile, De Jong has become the engine of the midfield, with a consistency and leadership unimaginable a few months ago.
There Is a Player Who Would Be Pointed Out by the Locker Room
Despite the good collective level, there is some disappointment in the locker room about the performance of a player who hasn't lived up to expectations. In a team where practically everyone is performing above what was expected, this situation is concerning, especially in such a decisive part of the season.
His Level in Recent Matches Is Concerning
According to "El Nacional," that player is Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan center-back, a usual defensive reference for Barça in recent years, is not going through his best moment. In the locker room, they claim that his drop in performance has been surprising, especially due to his performance in matches like against Dortmund, where he didn't show the security and strength that is expected.
This drop has caused doubts, not only among the fans but also within the group itself. A situation that, according to sources close to the club, has started to generate some discomfort in the defender.
His Release Clause, an Opportunity for Many
It should be remembered that Ronald Araujo has a release clause of 65 million euros this summer, an accessible figure for several big European clubs that have already shown interest. Important clubs are very alert to his situation, aware that he is not going through his best moment in Barcelona and that he might be open to a change of scenery.
Moreover, Pau Cubarsí and Íñigo Martínez have surpassed him. Both players have Flick's full confidence and are starters, leaving Araujo as a third or even fourth option in some matches. If this dynamic continues, the Uruguayan's future at Barça could be numbered.