Manchester City have reportedly made an enquiry about signing Ronald Araujo from Barcelona.
90min reported yesterday that City are showing an interest in the central defender, whose future at the Nou Camp is somewhat uncertain.
He is kind of in a similar situation to midfielder Gavi – another supposed City target – in that, he signed a new contract with the club, but La Liga did not register it.
That deal he signed was a four-year.
But his current deal takes him up to the summer of 2023.
Following the decision by La Liga, Araujo’s representatives have been fielding a number of enquiries from clubs interested in acquiring his services.
City like the player, but so do Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
Barca insist the star ‘is not and will not be available.
The club insist they are not worried about the situation and believe his contract situation will be rectified.
Araujo, a Uruguay international has been with Barca since 2018, when he transferred to the club from Boston River.
So far, he has clocked up 108 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and making three assists.
Last month, Barca manager Xavi spoke very highly of the 24-year-old after the 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the first-leg of the Cop del Rey semi-final.
He said (via Daily Mail): “For me Araujo is one of the best defenders in the world and so is Jules Kounde.”
Ronald Araujo would be a brilliant signing for Man City but it seems unlikely
Araujo is a player with massive potential.
He’s a brilliant modern-day centre-back, who is quick, strong and good on the ball.
Pep Guardiola is thought to want to strengthen his backline this summer. Potentially, Aymeric Laporte will be leaving the club in the summer.
That would definitely create a need for a new centre-back and Araujo would be brilliant to have.
He would not come cheap. But one wonders if Barca would be tempted to do a deal involving Laporte, since they reportedly like him.
