- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Barcelona have taken a strong stance over interest in key defender Ronald Araujo with several Premier League sides showing an interest.
HITC Football understands that Barcelona have told Ronald Araujo‘s suitors to forget about signing him, this month or any point in the near future.
Bayern Munich have been leading the charge for the Uruguayan star, whilst HITC Football also understands that Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle have made it clear via intermediaries that they would be keen to sign him if he came to market.
Bayern have tried to land Araujo this month, which has been spurned by Barcelona, and they have insisted they will be back in the summer – but Barca sources have confirmed to HITC Football they have no intention of selling, indeed they want to hand him a bumper new contract extending his stay beyond his current deal which runs to 2026.
Ronald Araujo shuts down ‘rumours’
With Barcelona shutting down the interest in their dominant ‘spectacular‘ centre-half, the player has also made it clear he’s going nowhere.
Speaking before their SuperCopa semi-final with Osasuna on Thursday, Araujo was quizzed on his future and he seemed to underline his commitment to the Catalan giants.
“Rumours of all kinds appear in all transfer windows. It’s a normal thing. Every transfer window we have stories about me, they also said about Man United last summer.
“The only thing I can say is that I am focused on the team and also on this club. I’m comfortable here and I always try to give everything for this shirt.
“It’s a privilege to wear the captain’s armband, I feel the responsibility.”
Araujo is going nowhere, but Barcelona contract expires in two years
Barcelona may currently be strongly against any suggestion of Araujo departing the club, however, in the not-too-distant future, they’ll need to think about his contract situation.
Expiring in 2026, his contract is likely to be up for negotiation at some point in the next 12-18 months and therefore Barcelona will need to ensure negotiations are successful for Xavi could find his ‘world’s best’ defender in a precarious situation.
Araujo signed his current deal in 2022 which includes a €1 billion (£860m) release clause.
With the Uruguayan remaining committed to Barcelona though, discussions over a new deal should go fairly smoothly whenever it is they arise for the 24-year-old.
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