Barcelona’s proposed move for Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger will have no bearing on the contract negotiations the club has maintained with academy graduate Ronald Araujo, explained director Mateu Alemany. The Barca camp reportedly met with Rudiger’s representatives recently to discuss a summer move when the German’s contract with Chelsea expires.
“Rüdiger thing does not affect Araújo’s future at all. What I have said to Ousmane is valid for Araújo,”
“We know that Araújo’s excited to stay but everyone has to understand and adapt to the club’s situation”.
Alemany said.
On the side, the club are in talks with Araujo and his people over a renewal; as it stands, the Uruguayan defender’s contract expires in 2023, implying that the club might be forced to sell him in the 2022 summer window should an agreement not be found.
However, the player himself provided a positive update on his future, stating that, despite the drawn-out negotiations, he is happy to continue at Barcelona.
“I am very happy to be here. I am happy with the support of the people. We are working on the renewal. This week we have a meeting. I hope that it is resolved soon so that I can continue many years in this club. I want to stay here. Optimistic.”
Araujo explained.
Barcelona hope Araujo and Rudiger are a part of their future, as they do with Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, and Noussair Mazraoui – three players that the club has supposedly signed, or is close to signing, for the subsequent seasons for free.
However, the club could be willing to splash out on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves, for whom Barcelona remains a likely destination if he leaves the Midlands this summer, as per The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
Neves joined Wolves from FC Porto in 2017, helped the side achieve promotion to the Premier League, and sustain their position as one of the outside challenges for a European spot in the years to come. He has made over two hundred appearances for the English side but will be allowed to leave this summer as per the report.
