Renovación Araujo FC Barcelona

Captain renewed

OFFICIAL: Ronald Araujo signs his renewal with FC Barcelona until 2031

Published:23/01/2025 - 15:17h

Updated:23/01/2025 - 16:22h

Ronald Araujo signed his contract renewal with FC Barcelona on Thursday until 2031

Calendar of FC Barcelona

Ronald Araujo signed his renewal with Barça on Thursday. The player left the club's offices accompanied by president Joan Laporta, who has been finalizing pending renewals throughout the morning, including that of Gerard Martín.

FC Barcelona and Ronald Araujo have reached an agreement to extend the contract of the Uruguayan international for five more seasons, until June 2031. After a couple of weeks of intense rumors about the possible departure of the '4' to Juventus, Barça resolved the 'saga' with a proposal that satisfied both the club and the defender and his agents.

Araujo arrived at the club's offices at two in the afternoon and gave a thumbs up to the journalists covering the signing of the new agreement for the Uruguayan defender, who will continue to wear the Barça jersey until 2031. Araujo's renewal is just the first of the ones the sports management has on the table. Gerard Martín also signed this morning accompanied by his family, and Pedri is expected to be next.

Final point to the controversy over his possible departure

The prominence that the Uruguayan could have had after the injury of Íñigo Martínez and, above all, the conversations with the sports management, have been key to sealing his continuity with the azulgrana team. Araujo had a contract until 2026, but starting from the 2025-26 season he will be among the Top-8 highest-paid players in the squad, a factor that led his representatives to negotiate with other clubs this January.

In that sense, there is an asterisk in the contract extension of the 'charrúa'. The center-back has reserved the possibility of negotiating with other clubs next summer, depending on the prominence he has in the second half of the 2024-25 season with Barça. In principle, Araujo will remain in Hansi Flick's starting eleven at least until mid-February, when the return of Íñigo Martínez, out due to a right thigh injury, is expected.

In addition to Juventus, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and other big clubs in Europe are closely watching the future of the defender. Thus, the club respects the player's decision to maintain total control over his future. It will be interesting to see what clauses the new contract incorporates. Juventus was the team that showed the most interest in signing Ronald Araujo in this winter market, but for now, the Italians will have to keep waiting.

Araujo was one of the lowest-paid players on the team

Barcelona players celebrating a goal
 

If the Barça had not been able to meet Ronald's wishes and had offered him an amount below what he considered he deserved, it was more than likely that the player himself would have changed his stance on his future and accepted the idea of leaving to sign with another team. In Turin, Munich, Paris, or Manchester, they would double his salary from 3.5 to 8 'kilos', which for his level and performance on the field was quite fair for a player of his caliber.

To put everything in context, in the Barcelona squad Lewandowski earns 16 million net, Raphinha more than 6, Koundé almost 7, and even Christensen and Íñigo Martínez, with more than 4.5, are earning more than him now. With this salary scale and having a contract ending in 2026, it was natural for Araujo to want a significant increase, even doubling his current salary to match Koundé, who is the fourth highest earner in the locker room, only behind Lewy, Frenkie de Jong, and Ansu Fati.

For importance, experience, and performance, the Uruguayan deserves to be in that position, and it seems that is what he will fight for. It was only a matter of seeing if the FC Barcelona was willing to offer him what he deserved or expected him to settle for less money, putting his continuity at risk.

Laporta and Deco have done the impossible to retain Araujo

The FC Barcelona had to move 'heaven' and 'earth' to keep Ronald Araujo happy by offering him a fair salary that he would accept for the renewal. The culés could not afford to lose their best center-back and the one who would be the perfect mentor for Pau Cubarsí, who could someday also be 'top 3' in the world, as the Uruguayan is. Although economically the sale of Araujo could help sign a high-level reinforcement, the sporting and locker room loss would be tremendous.

Araujo joined Barça in August 2018, after paying 4.7 million euros to Boston River. After making the jump to the first team, with Ronald Koeman as coach, the Uruguayan defender became a key piece in Barça, which renewed his contract due to interest from other teams in signing him.

The Uruguayan is one of the great leaders of the squad

Araujo acts as captain both on and off the field, something invaluable in any team. The character and personality he exudes are worthy of mention, and there is no money in the world capable of paying for that. In addition, the '4' is a unique center-back due to his brutal physique, which allows him to face any top winger and forward in the world. He is a super elite corrector, reaching almost all crosses, winning by speed against his opponent when necessary, and also being decisive in the air thanks to his height of over 1.90 m.

If Barça wants to compete for the next Champions and also win leagues and cups, it needs players like Araujo on the team. Without him, Pau Cubarsí would be left without a mentor and with much more pressure than he has now, as Christensen and Íñigo, while being good center-backs, are not part of the elite in Europe. For all these reasons, Laporta and Deco could not fail and were obliged to resolve this 'folder' to reassure all Barcelona fans and secure what will be a fundamental piece in the construction of a champion FC Barcelona.