Report – Why Barcelona have opted not to reveal Ronald Araujo’s release clause following renewal | OneFootball

After weeks of speculation, Barcelona have finally announced the renewal of Ronald Araujo’s contract.

The Uruguayan international has signed a new deal in Catalonia until 2031, in what could be a significant step from Barcelona in their bid to safeguard the long-term future of the defender.

However, one key element that was missing from Barcelona’s statement was the exact value of the release clause present in Araujo’s new contract.

Why Barcelona are hiding Araujo’s release clause

According to SPORT, Barcelona’s decision not to reveal the exact value of the release clause was a calculated move.

It appears one of the key demands made by Araujo’s entourage during negotiations was for the release clause to be lowered.

A new chapter starts for Ronald Araujo (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Until now, Araujo’s release clause was set at a whopping €1 billion in order to fend off other European clubs from making a move.

But Araujo’s camp wanted to lower the value to an amount that would be reasonable for a European giant to pay.

This serves as insurance for the Uruguayan international, who can always have a lever to utilise and push for his departure in case he is unhappy at Barcelona.

On the flip side, this can be beneficial for Barça as well, as it means the defender’s asking price will always remain higher than the market value.

Nonetheless, Barcelona wanted to hide the exact value from the media and other clubs that is why it was mentioned in the statement.

In any case, Barça expect Araujo to take charge in the coming future and become the leader of the backline for the foreseeable future. They are not betting on his big-money departure in the coming years.