Barcelona Sporting Director says ‘door is open’ if Ronald Araujo decides on departure | OneFootball

Barcelona had been at a contract stalemate with star defender Ronald Araujo for the best part of a year when Juventus’ interest arrived in January, and just a week later, the Uruguayan had sorted out a new deal. Yet it has not completely halted talk surrounding his future. Sporting Director Deco has admitted that he would be allowed to leave if he were not happy.

The Blaugrana sealed a new deal with Araujo suddenly after talks between Deco and the Uruguayan defender, but it has also been reported that he has a number of exit clauses in his new deal. Some claim that he could leave for as little as €65m in the summer, although there is debate whether that includes Champions League clubs too.

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Speaking to TV3, Deco explained that if Araujo told them he was not happy, then he would be allowed to leave.

“You can’t have a player who is not happy. It ends up being a problem for the team. There are times when you might not play, and it’s difficult to manage. We talked to him about it, and he was happy. If in the future he has to change, he has the door open to tell us. I don’t think that’s what he wants. If not, he wouldn’t have renewed. I think he’ll stay for many years.”

Araujo came back from his injury and was thrown straight back into the fray, playing in the Spanish Supercup against Real Madrid. However the 25-year-old has struggled in recent weeks, seeing Eric Garcia earn two starts ahead of him, and being taken off against Alaves for the Catalan defender, suggesting Hansi Flick is not entirely convinced he is in their best line-up. There has been some debate over whether Inigo Martinez or Araujo is in his strongest team, with Juventus and Arsenal rumoured to retain an interest in the Uruguayan.