Ronald Araújo is in the final stages of his recovery and hopes to return to the field soon... But he knows that he has lost his starting position and has to earn it again. Everything has changed with the arrival of Hansi Flick, who prefers meritocracy and is now clear that the Uruguayan doesn't deserve a place in his starting eleven. The one who does deserve it is Íñigo Martínez , whose contract with Barça ends on June 30, 2025.
At 33 years of age, Íñigo Martínez is having one of the best seasons of his career. He has taken advantage of the opportunity that Flick has given him and has earned himself a place in the starting lineup, to the point that no one can take his place in the starting lineup. There is an option in his contract to extend it for one more season, which he can easily fulfill if he continues to play his current role.
Hansi Flick recently spoke about the importance of Íñigo Martínez in his team and, furthermore, he hasn't held back on his continued contract. "His performance is great, he is a leader. it's a very young team, so it's important to have experienced players like Íñigo. If he continues playing like this, yes, he will definitely renew his contract," he argued.
"Discussing the contract is not part of my job. My job is to improve the team, but if it works out, the normal thing is that the contract will be renewed. The performance of the last few games is incredible," said the Barça coach.
Ronald Araújo Takes His Place in Hansi Flick's Barça: the Starter is Íñigo Martínez
After hearing these statements from his coach, Ronald Araújo is clear that he must take advantage of the opportunities that are available to him. He has changed his role in recent months, going from untouchable to substitute for Íñigo Martínez. He intends to renew his contract with Barça for several more years, but he knows that he is no longer as indispensable as before.
Araújo used to be the number one in defense, but now he is not only below Íñigo Martínez, but also Pau Cubarsí. The Uruguayan will have a hard time taking the starting spot from either of the two and has assumed his place in the squad: the bench.
Hansi Flick has always been clear on these matters: he opts for meritocracy. If Íñigo Martínez continues at this level for the entire season, his contract will automatically be renewed until 2026. He will have the role of a starter, while Ronald Araújo will be relegated to a role as a substitute, which he hasn't played in Barça until now.