Barcelona suffered a 0-3 defeat to Chelsea, with team morale hitting a low. The 26-year-old Ronald Araújo is going through a difficult period. Since being sent off against Chelsea, and even for some time before that, he has noticed his poor mental and emotional state. The Barcelona defender has requested time off from the club to recover from the psychological and mental stress he is currently under.
Araújo is a highly responsible player, as evidenced by the fact that he never shows a bad attitude on the bench. Even when Hansi Flick deployed him in positions other than his natural centre-back role—including as a centre-forward—he accepted willingly. In fact, he scored the winning goal against Girona when playing as a striker. For this reason, Ronald believed that the most honest approach for himself, the team, and the club was to ask for time to recover. The club approved the request without hesitation, as they believe restoring the player’s full mental and emotional well-being is paramount.
The leave is "indefinite" because no specific date can be set in such circumstances, but it is clear that the Uruguayan international is in good physical condition.
Barcelona has stated that they will fully support him, granting him the requested time and providing the necessary psychological support. Last Friday, president Joan Laporta expressed his backing for Araújo in Andorra, and he has also received full support from director of football Deco and head coach Hansi Flick. Specifically, Laporta said: “I want to encourage and support Araújo. He has received a lot of criticism, which I think is unfair. He gives his all on the pitch, he is our captain, and now he must get through this because he is an emotional and sensitive person. He is having a hard time, and I want to tell him that we are with him. He should turn the page because here, we share weal and woe—no victory or defeat is the sole responsibility of any individual.”
Now, Araújo will focus on restoring his mental state and overcoming the anxious moments he has been experiencing, relying on the support of his family, agent, and teammates. The players are already aware of his struggles and have offered their full backing. Ronald is a much-loved captain because he cares about his teammates, such as recently organizing a dinner at his home to enhance team cohesion. Now is the time to support Araújo and respect his situation.
