Barcelona star granted early release from international duty | OneFootball

A headline member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona has today been granted an early departure from international duty.

The player in question? Ronald Araújo.

Stopper Araújo departed Barcelona’s base in Catalunya last week, to link up with Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay national team ranks.

The 25-year-old was left out of the Celeste’s squad for their opening fixture of the break, a friendly meeting with the Basque Country, on Saturday night.

As much came after Araújo publicly admitted to struggling with fatigue, owing to his recent exploits at club level.

Nevertheless, he was expected to feature in at least some capacity in Uruguay’s next outing, when the South American heavyweights face off with the Ivory Coast in France on Tuesday.

But this, as alluded to above, will in fact not prove to be the case.

This comes amid confirmation that Araújo is one of five members of boss Bielsa’s squad to have today been granted an early release to return to their respective clubs, news which will no doubt come as music to the ears of all associated with Barcelona:

‘After completing the training sessions for the March FIFA Date in San Sebastián, Marcelo Bielsa decided to release 5 more players (Guillermo Varela had already been ) who will not be taken into account for the match with the Ivory Coast :  Matías Vecino , Facundo Torres , Ronald Araujo , Rodrigo Zalazar and Bruno Méndez.’

Conor Laird | GSFN