Barcelona captain breaks his silence on exit rumours | OneFootball

Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo has made his stance clear amid swirling rumours about his future that he is staying put.

The Uruguayan centre-back put speculation to rest after surprising fans and club staff by returning early from his summer holiday to resume training at Sant Joan Despi.

Araujo’s return was not expected until Sunday, when Barcelona officially begin pre-season with medical checks, but his early arrival was a statement in itself.

And when approached by Mundo Deportivo outside the club’s training ground, Araujo offered a short but firm response when asked if he was staying: “For me, yes,” he said as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

Release clause creates buzz but no movement yet

The talk around Araujo’s potential exit gained momentum due to a specific clause in his contract, his release clause temporarily drops to €60 million between July 1 and 15.

This has naturally triggered interest from other clubs, most notably Juventus.

Reports from Italy previously claimed that Juve manager Igor Tudor had pushed for Araujo’s signing and that the club were prepared to table an offer between €25–30 million.

Araujo has affirmed his commitment to Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, no official approach has been made, and those rumours have now cooled significantly. Barcelona have also made no indication that they are open to selling their defensive leader, especially at a cut-price fee.

Still a Barcelona leader

Araujo’s early return to training and willingness to publicly affirm his commitment speak volumes.

Last season, despite battling injury setbacks and an inconsistent campaign for the team, he remained committed to the team despite losing his first-team place to Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi.

The club values Araujo not just for his defensive skills, but for his leadership, discipline, and professionalism, traits that align perfectly with what new manager Hansi Flick is expected to demand.