Arsenal and Liverpool will now face an enormous bill if they want to sign Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo after he signed a new contract.
Araujo’s contract situation has been the subject of major concern for Barcelona over the course of this season.
The Uruguayan star has been excelling at the Camp Nou but was scheduled to be out of contract in 2023.
Xavi had branded Araujo ‘extraordinary’, making it abundantly clear that he wanted the 23-year-old to stay.
The situation allowed other clubs to advance their interest in signing Araujo, with Arsenal and Liverpool involved.
ABC in Spain reported in March that Arsenal had increased their offer for Araujo having negotiated terms with his representatives.
Sport have added that Barcelona ‘know’ that Liverpool are prepared to pay a high price to sign Araujo.
Finally though, Barcelona have a deal sorted out and Araujo will be staying at the Camp Nou for a while yet.
Araujo’s new deal will take him to 2026, ensuring that Barcelona aren’t in danger of losing him any time soon.
There is of course a chance that a club pays Araujo’s release clause, which is a requirement in Spanish contracts.
Yet Barcelona have confirmed that the release clause is set at an astonishing €1bn – around £842million.
That would of course be a world-record transfer and there is next to no chance that any club gets even close to paying that release clause in Araujo’s career.
Capable of playing at right back or centre back, Araujo figures to be a huge part of Xavi’s Barcelona revolution for years to come.
Arsenal and Liverpool will now have to take their search for a defender elsewhere this summer.
Torino defender Bremer has been linked with both clubs and may move up their wish lists with Araujo now off the market.
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