Juventus are interested in signing Barcelona and Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo.
The 25-year-old, whose contract expires in 2026, has a contract offer on the table from Barcelona and would like to stay at the club, but sources close to the player who are not authorised to speak publicly are of the view that he is worth more than what the La Liga side are offering.
It remains to be seen whether the finances involved make a deal possible this month with Barcelona only interested if a significant offer is brought to the table that results in a permanent sale.
Barcelona’s head coach Hansi Flick is keen for Araujo to remain part of his squad but at the executive level there has been an openness to sell him since the summer to raise funds and make a big profit on a player they signed in 2018 for a fee rising to around €5million, and help them operate within their salary limit.
Araujo’s hamstring injury at the Copa America last summer stopped that happening, and he only made his return to action on January 4, playing 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 4-0 win in the Copa del Rey against Barbastro.
“We are talking with the club about my renewal, but I am focused on playing again and getting minutes,” Araujo said after the game against Barbastro. “Will I continue 100% at Barca? We are talking to the club.”
GO DEEPER
The Transfer Radar 2025: The Athletic’s ultimate guide to players who could be on the move
Juventus are in need of reinforcements in defence given the injuries suffered by Bremer and Juan Cabal which will keep both players out for the rest of the season. Despite being unbeaten in Serie A this season, Thiago Motta’s side are fifth in the table, 12 points off Napoli in top spot. They have drawn five of their last six matches in the league.
They had been interested in signing Fikayo Tomori from AC Milan, but that has stalled since Milan appointed Sergio Conceicao as their new head coach.
It is unlikely Barcelona would allow Araujo to leave in the middle of the season, considering it would disrupt Flick’s plans and mean losing an experienced international, unless it was a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy him at the end of it.
In the summer Barcelona plan to sell any player with a year left on their contract who are not willing to sign a new deal. Araujo falls into this bracket, along with Frenkie De Jong, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia. Pedri and Gavi, whose deals also expire in 2026, are in talks over extending and those discussions are understood to be at a more positive stage.
(Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Leave a Reply