Araujo-Juventus links: fitness and Barcelona transfer situation explained | OneFootball

Ronald Araujo has been linked with a move to Juventus in the January transfer window, and Football Espana editor Ruairidh Barlow tells Football Italia the latest on the Barcelona defender.

Juventus need to sign two defenders in the winter transfer window, and Barcelona’s Araujo has emerged as a primary target for the Bianconeri.

Gazzetta reports that the Uruguay international has already given his green light to move to Turin, but Juventus are pushing for a loan deal.

The 25-year-old is working to get back in shape after several months on the touchline, and Ruairidh Barlow of Football Espana explains the context of a potential deal between Juventus and Barcelona.

“Araujo has been injured since July when he underwent an operation due to a hamstring injury. He’s been for the last few weeks, but he only just came back into the side,” Barlow says.

“Around January last year, there were reports that he would leave. His contract expires in 2026, but so far, there is a large financial distance between Barcelona and his agents.

Araujo-Juventus transfer links: fitness and Barcelona transfer situation explained

Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona gestures as he leaves the pitch after being shown a red card by Referee Istvan Kovacs (not pictured) for a foul on Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 16, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“This was not helped by Manchester United and Bayern Munich last year. There was no transfer in the end; but Araujo was expected to leave in the summer as well. However, the injury affected any potential deal. Tuchel leaving Bayern didn’t help either, as the German coach wanted him at the club.

“Recent weeks have said that the environment is more favourable in terms of getting a new deal done, but the message from the club is that if he doesn’t sign a new deal before the summer, then he’ll be sold in the summer.

“Araujo seems more keen to stay than he was six months ago, but it’s still uncertain, and ultimately, Barcelona will have to sell at least two centre-backs. One would be Eric Garcia and probably Andreas Christensen, too. The third is maybe Araujo, but it depends on how the negotiations go, also because Barcelona seem close to reaching an agreement for Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen. Some see him as an Araujo replacement, but it’s all open and it depends on how negotiations go.

“Barcelona would probably like to keep him, but financially, it would make more sense to cash in on him.”

Araujo joined Barcelona B from Boston River in 2018 in a €4.7m deal. The versatile defender has only made one appearance for the Catalans this season, playing 90 minutes in a Cope del Rey clash against fourth-division side UD Barbastro.