Barcelona's Araújo Future in Doubt Amid Injury and Contract Saga

Barcelona is hopeful of convincing Ronald Araújo to stay at the club, but the defender's future is complicated by his contract situation and recent injury.

Araújo replaced Iñigo Martínez in Sunday's Supercopa win over Real Madrid, with teammate Robert Lewandowski appearing to tell the Uruguay international during the post-game celebrations: "You have to stay."

Barça president Joan Laporta also appealed to Araújo, whose contract expires in 2026, to remain at the club amid reported interest from Italian side Juventus.

The 23-year-old has been a key figure in Barça's backline since joining the club in 2018, but he missed the first half of the season with a hamstring injury picked up at last summer's Copa América.

Martínez and Pau Cubarsí have established themselves as coach Hansi Flick's first-choice centre-back pairing, but with the Spaniard now set to miss the next month with a hamstring problem, the door has opened for Araújo to win his place back in the team.

However, Araújo's future is complicated by the fact he is in the final 18 months of his contract. Sources have told ESPN that Barça don't want to risk losing him for free in 2026.

Flick, meanwhile, refused to diverge the details of his private conversations with Araújo, but was effusive in his praise of the player.

"When I speak with the players, it's always between us," he said. "Ronald is a Barcelona player and nothing has changed."

Of course we are not happy that Iñigo has this injury, but what you have seen in the match against Madrid is that also Ronald is back.

"He performed really good. He's a fantastic centre defender, one of the best centre defenders, and he's a leader. He showed that on Sunday."

It's a quick return to action for Barça when they face Real Betis in the Copa del Rey last 16 at the Olympic Stadium with Araújo in line to start.

Eric García is another option to come into the middle of the defence, while Flick also confirmed Andreas Christensen could return from a long injury layoff against Getafe on Saturday to further bolster his centre-back options.