Juventus make Barcelona captain their top summer priority, ready to offer €25-30 million | OneFootball

In a fresh update from SPORT, it has been revealed that Juventus are stepping up their efforts to sign Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo this summer.

The interest from the Italian giants is not new, but this time, they believe the conditions may favour a deal.

Juventus manager Igor Tudor is pushing hard to bring Araujo to Turin, making the Uruguayan defender his top priority in this transfer window.

A long-standing interest

The club had already shown serious interest during the winter, and Araujo was said to have given serious thought to an exit at that time.

However, the defender ended up renewing his contract with Barcelona, extending his stay until 2031 with a staggering €1 billion release clause.

Interestingly, it must be noted that this clause will drop significantly to just €70 million during the first ten days of July.

Juventus are interested in Ronald Araujo. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Juventus are hoping to take advantage of this window and are prepared to put forward an offer in the region of €25-30 million, well below even the temporary clause, but still a notable fee for a player whose role at Barcelona has recently diminished.

Araujo no longer untouchable at Barcelona

Araujo’s status within the Barcelona squad has shifted. Once a nailed-on starter, he now finds himself behind young talent Pau Cubarsi and the experienced Inigo Martinez in the pecking order.

This development has raised questions about his long-term future at the club, especially with the board open to offloading a few defenders.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has already confirmed in an interview that the club has an excess of centre-backs.

While Andreas Christensen would only be allowed to leave as a free agent, selling Araujo could bring in a sizeable amount, helping to ease the club’s ongoing financial struggles.

As the transfer window officially opens on July 1, the situation is expected to evolve quickly. Juventus are waiting for the right moment, and Barcelona may find it hard to resist if a strong offer is tabled.