Barça qualified brilliantly for the quarterfinals of the Champions League by defeating Benfica in a first half to remember.
Barça played as a compact unit, with clear ideas, depth, fluidity, and precision. The intensity was at its peak, and Barça dominated their opponent from the start.
A Target in the Barça-Benfica Match
Several players excelled at a stellar level: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri, Balde... But not everything Flick saw on the field pleased him. A player emerged from that match as a target.
So much so that Flick has already given Deco the OK to put him on the market this summer and transfer him. He doesn't need him in his squad.
This is Ronald Araújo, a center-back with an imposing presence and excellent market value in the winter market. But Hansi Flick doesn't like him.
He played last night due to the suspension on Cubarsí. But for the center-back position, Flick has made it clear that he prefers the homegrown player and Íñigo Martínez. And from now on, also Eric García, a player who has his blessing.
The Number One on the Discard List
Last night, Flick wasn't convinced by Araújo's ball distribution, an area where he is far behind the other three center-backs on the team. He also doesn't like his discipline in applying the offside trap. Barça had several scares in that regard last night.
Flick directly blames Araújo for Benfica's goal last night; he was neither well-positioned nor reacted to the set piece as he should have.
Araújo compensates for his shortcomings with an impressive physical presence, which even allows him to score goals, but Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, and Eric García, who have recently scored, also have that.
Against him is also his physical fragility and his tendency to get injured. Flick has been told that decisions need to be made on discards to try to raise money this summer. And Araújo, who is a substitute when Cubarsí is available, is placed on the list as the number one.
Juventus Is Very Interested
Araújo was, along with Frenkie De Jong, Joan Laporta's main target to be transferred. But the Dutchman has redeemed himself and has become a vital piece for the team.
In the past winter market, Araújo was very close to ending up at Juventus. The deal wasn't closed because Juventus wanted him on loan. This summer, the Italian club will come back for him.
The price is already decided: 60M. And Juventus is not the only club interested.