Barcelona heavyweight’s new contract to have an ‘escape route’ for the summer – report | OneFootball

Barcelona and Ronald Araujo have indeed come a full circle from where their situation was a week ago.

The Uruguayan international, who appeared set to leave the club and join Juventus this month, turned his decision around after a discussion with Deco and is now set to stay until the end of the season.

Barcelona now hope to use his change of heart to pioneer a new contract renewal agreement that will tie him down to the club until 2030, four years beyond the current expiry of his contract in 2026.

Renewal with a clause

As relayed by Mundo Deportivo in a recent update, Barcelona met with the captain’s agents earlier this week to discuss the future plans they had with Araujo and how he was a crucial member of their plans.

Utilizing the good moment, they hope that the defender will sign his new contract next week.

The new deal will not only see him on improved terms but also provide him an ‘escape route’ for the summer if the player has a change of heart.

Araujo will soon sign a new contract. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Given the options Flick has in defence, Araujo wishes to have some leverage over his future should he lose prominence later this season or fall behind Inigo Martinez on the pecking order.

The club have agreed to meet his demand and will thus insert a lower release clause that would be affordable for any team interested in June.

The valuation of that clause and a possible condition as to when it will come into play are yet to be decided.

Barcelona are optimistic about the current situation and believe that the player will accept the new terms.

Given Martinez’s age, moreover, it is clear that Araujo leads the race to be Barcelona’s starting centre-back for years to come.