FC Barcelona resumes contacts to renew Ronald Araújo

Published:1/11/2024 - 19:02h

Updated:2/11/2024 - 05:31h

The FC Barcelona board will resume contacts with Ronald Araújo in November to negotiate an extension of his contract. After a very tense summer, the parties seem open to renewing

Ronald Araújo will resume negotiations with FC Barcelona this month to sign a new contract. The defender will be a free agent in June 2026 and the Barça board does not want to wait any longer to ensure the future of one of the team's leaders (the '4' is the second captain). In summer, yes, the Barça position was more inclined towards a million-dollar sale.

However, the Uruguayan's injury during the Copa América, along with the arrival of Hansi Flick, radically changed the club's plans with the 25-year-old centre-back. The '4' tore the hamstring tendon in his right thigh and had to travel to Finland for surgery. Furthermore, the German coach made it clear to the board that he counted on Araújo as a key piece in his scheme.

All this cooled down the debate about his possible transfer before August 30, but the issue of renewal, also on standby since the beginning of the year, was kept on the sidelines by decision of the defender. And, for Ronald, the absolute priority became his recovery, which should take place at the end of the month that has just begun.

The dates on which Barça and Araújo will negotiate again

Rivera's man could receive a medical discharge after the next national team break, with the matches against Celta de Vigo and Stade Brest (November 23 and 26) being the tentative dates to see him again in a Barça squad. Once back in action, talks between the parties will formally resume.

Araújo signed until 2026 with a termination clause of 1,000 million euros. Clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United were willing this year to pay up to 100 kilos for the Uruguayan international, but Barça chose to 'pass' on these offers.

The defender currently earns around €9M gross per season, emoluments that will undergo a significant adjustment after the signing of a new contract that, beyond past tensions, seems to be the best solution for both the club and the player. For Barça, the ideal is to close this operation as soon as possible, no later than January 2025. The board is also working on the renewals of Pedri and Gavi, two other references whose contract ends in 2026.