FC BARCELONA
Flick surprises by including Ronald Araujo in the squad against Osasuna, why did he change his mind?
Published:27/03/2025 - 15:50h
Updated:27/03/2025 - 15:53h
Ronald Araujo was included in the squad for the match against CA Osasuna, why?
The squad of FC Barcelona for the match against CA Osasuna brought a pleasant surprise for the azulgrana team. Among the 23 players called up by Hansi Flick for the match against the Navarrese team, there was an unexpected name: Ronald Araujo.
The Uruguayan apparently would not be part of the available players for the German coach for the clash against the team from Pamplona. In fact, this was revealed by Hansi Flick himself in the press conference prior to the match, where he admitted that he did not count on the Uruguayan for this match due to the short time he had to recover after participating in international commitments with the Uruguayan national team and the complicated journey back to Barcelona, a trip of more than 10 hours.
Despite not having participated in any of the training sessions held this week prior to the match against CA Osasuna, Ronald Araujo managed to secure a spot on the list of called-up players and will be available for Hansi Flick in the clash against the Pamplona team. He is expected to take on a substitute role, as, according to the German coach, the starting pair of defenders will be Iñigo Martínez and Eric García.
Why did Hansi Flick end up including Ronald Araujo in the squad for the match against Osasuna?
Now, why has Hansi Flick changed his mind regarding Ronald Araujo, considering that he already had a starting pair of center-backs and their respective substitutes on the bench, such as Pau Cubarsí and Alexis Olmedo? According to 'SPORT', the presence of the Uruguayan in this squad has been the result of his own merit, as he apparently managed to convince the German coach that, after not playing against Bolivia, he is in optimal condition to participate in the match against Osasuna if needed, demonstrating a true commitment to the team and a desire to help the group in a crucial match.
The fact that he did not play against Bolivia is crucial for the inclusion of Ronald Araujo in this squad. Beyond not adding 90 additional minutes, the Uruguayan did not play in such a challenging environment as that of Bolivia, whose stadium (Estadio Municipal de El Alto) often presents very demanding matches due to the altitude. By avoiding this fatigue and arriving in Barcelona on Wednesday afternoon/evening, Hansi Flick finally reconsidered his position regarding the player upon seeing him in good condition.
