U-turn: This Player Has One Foot in Barça's Grave. Two Big Clubs Now Fight for Him

Chelsea and Manchester United are bidding for one of the Barça stars that Deco has put on the winter market.

While he recovers from his injury and returns before the end of the year, as planned, Ronald Araújo is studying his future.

His future is far from Camp Nou. Right now he has one foot in Barça's grave. Flick has given his blessing to his departure if the financial offer is interesting enough.

It's not because Flick doesn't like Araújo. In fact, he has barely seen him in action. But with Cubarsi, Íñigo Martínez and, occasionally, Koundé, he has both center-back spots well covered, with Eric García on the waiting list.

Flick believes that if Araújo's money is used to bring in another player in a more demanded position, then it will be welcome.

Ronald Araújo's days at Barça are numbered | Getty Images, PixaBay

Laporta Sets a Price for Araújo

Manchester United and Chelsea are the two clubs willing to pay a significant transfer fee for Araújo, according to Fichajes.net.

Araújo's contract ends in June 2026 and his acquisition inevitably involves a transfer fee that Laporta estimates at 80 million euros.

He's one of the team captains and one of the players with the greatest commitment to the club. Despite that, he knows that the president wants to open the door for him to leave.

They Push Him to Leave Barça

Barça has been trying to sell him for two years to balance the books. Last summer he was very close to leaving the club. However, an untimely injury, which prevents him from playing even today, put an endt to all hopes.

Deco negotiates to sell Araújo to the highest bidder | Getty Images, PixaBay, Madrid-Barcelona

Araújo sees how his teammates Gavi and Fermín, who have just recovered from injuries, have reached an agreement with the club to renew their contracts. But that is not the case for him.

He feels that he's being pushed to leave the club. And he won't object it if they don't want to count on him. Still, he feels very much like a Barça player and would like nothing more than to extend his stay at Barça as long as possible.

Laporta has tried with Frenkie De Jong, with Lewandowski and with Koundé. But only Araújo seems capable of playing the role of saviour of the club with a transfer.

The auction that Chelsea and Manchester United are willing to undertake plays in favor of Barça.