The Blaugrana have had a successful breakthrough in the talks with Ronald Araujo’s representatives; the centre-back will reportedly extend his contract with the club until 2026.
The Uruguayan has been one of Barca’s star performers this season, building upon an impressive breakthrough the year before, but contractual uncertainty had invited admiring glances from Liverpool and Chelsea and even arch-rivals Real Madrid. Nonetheless, after a meeting between sporting director Mateu Alemany and Araujo’s camp, the player is now preparing to commit his future to the club.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reports the same, claiming that Barcelona are laying down the paperwork for Araujo to renew his deal, which will extend his stay at the club at least until 2026 and add a 1 billion euros release clause.
The Catalans are expected to move on to the matter of Gavi next; the 17-year-old is out of contract in 2023 currently, with the club keen to hold onto him following a remarkable breakout season.
Alemany spoke confidently about renewing the young pair’s contracts recently but confirmed that the club won’t go above and beyond their wage limitations to appease them, given that they are confined to a strict budget.
“He and his agents have known for nearly a year what our position is. For us, he can stay, as long as it’s within sustainable salary limits and proportionate to his teammates,”
“That is the criteria for everyone. They all know what the club’s situation is. The new management needs rationality in the salaries.
he said.
Both Araujo and Gavi have been key to Barcelona’s recent resurgence under Xavi Hernandez and were two of the better performers even under his predecessor Ronald Koeman prior to his sacking in October.
Their contributions have propelled the team up to second place in the LaLiga table, just weeks after they found themselves lying low in the table and completely out of the title race.
