Barcelona's elimination in the Champions League semifinals at the hands of Inter Milan has marked a turning point in the club's season. What was supposed to be a European triumph ended as a very big disappointment for the players, executives, and fans. The blaugranas, who arrived inspired at the final stretch, showed a concerning defensive weakness that ultimately buried all the work done until then.
The seven goals conceded in the tie have set off alarms. Beyond the result, the feeling of vulnerability in critical moments has called the sports project into question. In the offices, there is already talk of a deep restructuring, especially in the defensive line, where it is considered that the cycle of several Barça players has come to an end.
With one foot out
After the tragedy in the Champions League, one of the names topping the list of departures is Ronald Araújo. The Uruguayan center-back's performance at San Siro has been decisive for the board to accelerate his exit next transfer market. His marking error on Acerbi in the 3-3 and the weak response in the decisive goal were the breaking point.
Both Joan Laporta and Deco have given the green light to his sale, convinced that his time at the club has ended. For years he was a symbol of commitment and strength in the defense, but his recent months have been marked by erratic decisions and moments of tension. Araújo had already been heavily criticized after his expulsion against PSG last year, and now he repeats as a negative protagonist.
Operation underway
The feeling is that Araújo has lost the trust of the environment and also part of the locker room, but it is not solely due to sports reasons. In a context of economic tightness, the club sees in his sale an opportunity to bring in between 50 to 60 million euros that could be used to strengthen other positions. Teams like Manchester United have already shown interest, and the sports management believes it is the ideal time to execute the operation.
Meanwhile, Deco is already working on possible replacements. One of the names gaining the most traction is Dean Huijsen, a young center-back from Bournemouth with great potential. His profile fits with the renewal idea the club is seeking: young talent, room for growth, and technical reliability.