Ronald Araujo insists he’s “100%” committed to Barcelona amid rumours linking him with a move to either Manchester United or Bayern Munich.
The Uruguayan was one of the first names on Xavi’s teamsheet last season as the Catalan giants reclaimed La Liga from fierce rivals Real Madrid, and would have more appearances to his name this season were it not for a muscle injury picked up in August.
Araujo has proven his versatility, occasionally slotting in at right-back in addition to his natural position of centre-back, and his consistently high levels of performance have drawn the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich have both been linked with Araujo – Barcelona’s delicate financial position making a sale plausible – but it’s unlikely that either club have the financial firepower to tempt Barca into selling mid-season.
In any event, Araujo has played down talk of an exit from Catalonia, telling the media that he’s solely focused on his career at Barcelona despite the outside noise.
“In every transfer window there are rumours of all kinds. It’s normal,” Araujo remarked. “The only thing I can say is that I’m focused on the team and also on this club. I’m comfortable here and I always try to give everything for this shirt.
“There are always rumours that appear in all markets. There was talk in the summer about Manchester United, but I am focused on Barca. And I will always give 100%.”
Whether a move materialises in the future remains to be seen. Araujo’s desire to stay at Barcelona may be superseded by the club’s need to clear their astronomical debts, and the 24-year-old’s ability may command a fee in excess of €80m.
That’s an amount Bayern Munich could potentially pay in the future – they spent big to land Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur last summer – and Manchester United may also have money to spend after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% investment in the club is officially ratified.
There is, however, likely to be a clear out at Old Trafford first, making it more likely that Araujo stays in Spain at a club that he joined in 2018 for a fee of just €3.5m.
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