Ronald Araujo He asked Barcelona to stay away from training in order to take care of his mental health. The defender, who has not worked with the team since the defeat against Chelsea on Monday, met with the technical directors and their representatives to inform them that he is physically fit, but needs a period of psychological recovery before returning to competition.
The decision came after days of speculation. Initially, Barcelona announced that the Uruguayan was sick with a stomach virus. However, according to the newspaper Sport W mundo deportivo, Breakups are directly related to emotional issues.
The situation began to take on greater dimensions after he was sent off in the 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, in Stamford Bridgel UEFA Champions League. Araujo received a second yellow card in the first half, when the score was 2-0, and became the target of intense criticism from fans on social media.
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In a press conference on Monday. Hansi FlickBarcelona coach demands respect for the athlete when asked about his absence: “He’s not ready. It’s a private situation and I don’t want to say anything more. I ask you to respect it, please.”.
The recent pressures are not isolated. Araujo was also the target of criticism in 2024, when he was shown a direct red card Paris Saint-Germainin the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in a match in which Barcelona won 1-0 before returning with a score of 4-1 with one player less. Furthermore, in last season’s semi-final, he was identified as responsible for a blunder on the goal that decided the game Inter Milan For the Champions League final.
While the player seeks psychological support, Barcelona continues its preparations for the confrontation Atletico Madrid Tuesday, 5pm (Brasilia time). Camp Noufor round 15 Spanish League.