National team manager could release Barcelona defender from international duty earlier than expected – Report | OneFootball

A significant part of this FC Barcelona squad is currently away from the Blaugrana club as several players have been called up by their respective national teams for the current international break.

Most of these players have already featured for their teams during this break, including Pedri, Cubarsí, Yamal, Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Jules Koundé, and Raphinha.

Another Barcelona player who has completed the first of his two scheduled games is defender Ronald Araújo, who faced Argentina last night in a World Cup qualifier. His team’s second game is set to be played against Bolivia on March 25th.

As previously reported, the center-back’s schedule with Uruguay means he will not return in time for the game against Osasuna on March 27th unless he received a booking against Argentina, which was not the case. However, according to Mundo Deportivo, there is still a chance of Araujo being available for Hansi Flick for this game.

This is the case as the report claims that Marcelo Bielsa will be looking to play his freshest and fittest players for the second game of this international break, against Bolivia, and Araujo can be released from his national team camp sooner than expected.

The Uruguayan national team coach has named a 38-man squad for this international break, and it is clear that several of these players will not be traveling to El Alto for the game against Bolivia.

Reports from the South American country suggest that Bielsa will prefer to play younger, faster players for this tie, especially keeping in view the physical demands of a match that will be played 4150 meters above sea level.

Furthermore, Uruguay have a seven-point advantage over the seventh-placed Bolivia, and the first six teams in the group are set to qualify for the World Cup 2026.

Thus, there is a good chance that Araujo will be released earlier than expected from his national team, and Flick will be particularly looking forward to his early return after seeing Pau Cubarsi leave the pitch with discomfort against the Netherlands.