FC Barcelona Defender Araujo Shares Concerns about Olmo and Contract Negotiations Following Barbastro Victory
Barcelona star Ronald Araujo discussed his contract negotiations with the club and the concerns within the squad regarding Dani Olmo's registration predicament following a triumphant Copa del Rey clash against Barbastro.
Hansi Flick handed Araujo his first start in the 2024/2025 campaign for the 4-0 victory.
Following the match, Araujo was inquired about potential contract extensions, as reported by Relevo, suggesting that both he and Frenkie de Jong, whose contract also ends on June 30, 2026, could be put up for sale if no new agreements are reached by the same date this year.
"We're having discussions with the club, and we hope that it can be resolved. I'm focused on getting more playing time and positive sensations. To stay 100% with Barça? We're talking, we'll see how things progress," Araujo declared.
Prompted to comment on Olmo and Pau Victor's registration dilemma, which took a new twist before kickoff when La Liga and the RFEF yet again denied their licenses, Araujo expressed concern.
"We're a bit anxious because they're two crucial players for us. But the club asserts that it can resolve it, and we hope it does," Araujo shared.
Much like his manager, Araujo also commended Toni Fernandez, who at 16 became the second-youngest debutant in club history after Lamine Yamal with his substitute appearance.
"Toni is fantastic. He possesses tremendous skill. The folks from La Masia are incredible, they're not intimidated when they join the first team," Araujo stated.
Following a challenging close to 2024, Araujo was delighted to be back in action and secure a victory.
"We're content with the result and I'm happy to return to the field after a long absence. It was a tough pitch, but we started with intense focus. I didn't expect to play 90 minutes, but I'm satisfied. We knew this break would be beneficial for recovery and improving our performance," he concluded.
Toni Fernandez, who hails from La Masia, was praised by Araujo for his debut, becoming the second-youngest player to feature for Barcelona after Lamine Yamal.
During the pre-match discussions, Araujo voiced his concerns about Dani Olmo and Pau Victor's registration issues, as their licenses were once again denied by La Liga and the RFEF.
Despite the contract negotiations with the club, Ronald Araujo expressed his desire to remain at Barcelona, expressing optimism about the ongoing talks and his hopes for more playing time.
