Deco firm on Araújo's future: Barca's star defender not for sale amid Bayern, Man Utd interest

Deco firm on Araújo's future: Barca's star defender not for sale amid Bayern, Man Utd interest

Faruq Ibrahim 23:08 - 22.01.2024

Barcelona's sporting director reiterates that star centre-back Ronald Araujo is not for sale.

Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, has made a firm statement regarding the future of their centre-back, Ronald Araújo, amidst interests from top European clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United. 

He has confirmed that the club has no plans to entertain offers for Araújo, underscoring his importance to Barcelona's present and future. Deco emphasized that they are not considering selling Araújo and that their focus is on ensuring his happiness and contentment at the club, which is evident in their daily interactions.

Araujo not for Sale

Deco's comments came after Barcelona's recent victory over Real Betis, where he expressed his strong stance on retaining Araújo. Deco mentioned, "He is one of Barça's key players of the present and future. We are not considering selling him, we want him to be happy and this is shown on a day-to-day basis. There is nothing to talk about. The important thing is that he is here with hunger and heart."

Despite ruling out a departure for Araújo, Deco did concede that Barcelona is currently facing challenges with Financial Fair Play regulations, which restrict their ability to sign new players. However, he reassured that the club is continuously working on this issue. Araújo's commitment to Barcelona has been clear, and he has shown no interest in leaving the club at this point. 

Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona in Spain
Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona in Spain.

This is a significant statement, especially given the high-profile nature of the clubs interested in him and Barcelona's well-documented financial concerns.

Bayern Munich, on their part, has already recruited Eric Dier as defensive cover, and Manchester United is not expected to make a significant move for a new defender until after the summer transfer window. 

Should Araújo remain unwilling to leave Camp Nou, these clubs might have to look elsewhere to bolster their defenses. Deco's comments highlight Barcelona's determination to keep their key players and build a strong team for the future

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