Barcelona defender and captain Ronald Araujo has been given an indefinite leave of absence from the club, reportedly at his own request.
The Uruguayan did not feature in Barcelona’s 3-1 LaLiga victory over Alaves on Saturday. Manager Hansi Flick attributed his absence to a “stomach virus,” without providing further details. Araujo’s last outing came in the Champions League clash against Chelsea, which ended in a 3-0 defeat for Barcelona. In that match, he was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on teammate Cucurella just before halftime.
According to The Athletic, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco held discussions with Araujo’s representatives on Monday, agreeing to grant the 28-year-old the time he requested away from football. The club emphasized its support for him during this period. Flick addressed the situation in a brief statement to the media: “It is a private situation, I don’t want to say more. And please, if you can respect it I would appreciate it.”
Barcelona did not respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours. Meanwhile, the team, currently leading the LaLiga table, is set to host fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
ADD A COMMENT :