Barcelona defender will not return until December after undergoing successful surgery

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo successfully underwent surgery on Monday in Finland to repair his recent injury in his right leg, confirms Javi Miguel. 

This surgery was necessary due to an injury he sustained while playing for Uruguay during a Copa America match against Brazil. 

Although the exact duration of his recovery was not detailed in the club’s official statement, it is clear that Araujo will be sidelined for a minimum of four months.

This means he won’t be seen on the field again until December, missing a significant portion of the season.

A significant blow to Barcelona

The absence of Araujo is a blow to Barcelona’s defence, and it has already influenced the club’s planning. With Araujo out, the possibility of Eric Garcia remaining at Barcelona increases.

Garcia was initially considered a potential transfer, but Araujo’s injury could necessitate his retention to maintain defensive stability. 

Additionally, this situation might also impact the club’s transfer strategy, potentially leading to the decision to keep Mikayil Faye until at least January as a precautionary measure.

Barcelona have suffered enough

Ronald Araujo was injured during a Copa America match against Brazil. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Araujo’s struggle with injuries is becoming a growing concern for the club. His last appearance in the Barcelona jersey was on May 4th against Girona, a match that ended in a 2-4 defeat. 

Since that game, Araujo has been plagued by various health issues, though the club has not always disclosed the specifics. Despite these problems, Araujo was included in the squad for subsequent matches, but he never made it onto the field. 

Now, with this new injury and the necessary recovery time, Araujo will have spent a total of six months unable to contribute to the team.

What next for Barcelona?

This prolonged absence is highly unusual and has left Barcelona searching for solutions. The club needs to address the situation promptly to avoid further disruptions to their defensive lineup. 

The priority is to ensure that Araujo can return to full fitness without rushing his recovery, as doing so could lead to further complications.

The timing of Araujo’s injury and the required surgery could not have been worse for Barcelona. The team was counting on his defensive prowess for the start of the season. 

Now, they must adapt and find ways to compensate for his absence. This could involve tactical adjustments, increased responsibilities for other defenders, and perhaps even a reshuffling of the squad to cover the gap left by Araujo.