Barcelona’s Crisis Deepens: Key defender leaves the field in tears through muscle injury | OneFootball

Barcelona’s bad luck with player injuries continues, as they face yet another setback following Pedri’s recent injury while on international duty. This time, the blow comes as a muscle injury to their key defender, Ronald Araujo.

The incident occurred during the Copa America quarter-final match between Uruguay and Brazil. In the 30th minute of the game, Araujo was forced to leave the field in tears after suffering a muscle problem in his right leg.

The injury happened as Araujo attempted to block a cross. While stretching out his right leg, the Uruguayan centre-back suddenly went down, clutching his face in pain.

The urgency of the situation was immediately apparent as both teammates and opponents quickly gathered around him, and Uruguay’s medical team promptly called for a substitution. He was eventually replaced by Jose Maria Gimenez.

More bad news for Barcelona

This development is particularly concerning given Araujo’s history of muscle problems. Since making his debut for Barcelona in 2019, he has dealt with eight different muscle injuries.

The severity of this latest injury is still unknown, pending a thorough diagnosis. However, the initial signs are troubling and suggest that Araujo’s pre-season preparations with Barcelona under new manager Hansi Flick could be significantly affected.

Ronald Araujo left the pitch in tears. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

For Flick, this adds to an already challenging situation. The new manager is preparing to start his tenure with Barcelona amidst a spate of injuries.

Key players like Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Pedri are already expected to miss the start of the pre-season. With Araujo now potentially sidelined as well, Flick’s task of readying the team for the upcoming season becomes even more daunting.

It’s getting worse for Flick

The timing of these injuries couldn’t be worse for Barcelona. As they aim to rebuild and strengthen their squad, having critical players unavailable disrupts their plans and hampers the team’s cohesion and preparation.

The injuries to Pedri and Araujo, in particular, are significant blows. Both players are not only central to Barcelona’s defensive and midfield strategies but also bring a level of experience and skill that is hard to replace.

The absence of so many key players during pre-season means that Flick will have to rely on the depth of the squad, giving opportunities to younger or less experienced players to step up.

This could be a double-edged sword; while it provides a chance for emerging talents to shine, it also puts pressure on them to perform at a high level without the guidance of seasoned veterans.