Barcelona key defender’s contract renewal proving tricky due to past ‘promise’

The amount of interest Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has generated is massive. Despite that, however, the Uruguayan remains committed to the team but ensuring his continuity is proving to be tricky for the Blaugrana.

Araujo’s current contract with Barcelona runs until 2026, having renewed his deal in 2022. Over the past few years, the defender has become the unquestionable leader of the team’s defensive line.

Interestingly enough, while both the player and Barcelona are keen on continuing their association, the situation isn’t straightforward, reports SPORT.

What’s the complexity?

To grasp the complexity of Araujo’s stay, one needs to revisit his contract renewal process from 2022. 

However, the backstory goes further, back to the fall of 2021. It was during this time when Pedri and Ansu Fati renewed their contracts, securing significantly higher salaries, thus setting a new standard.

Months later, during Araujo’s contract renewal discussions, Barcelona informed the Uruguayan player about the financial constraints the club was facing due to Financial Fair Play regulations. This meant that any salary increase for Araujo would be limited. 

Ronald Araujo’s current contract runs until 2026. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

The defender, though, felt he deserved a salary on par with higher earners. Eventually, a compromise was reached and Araujo agreed to work on a lower salary in exchange for a verbal assurance, a ‘promise’ from Barcelona. 

They promised to adjust his contract to ensure it reflected his performance and status within the team as closely as possible. With this understanding in place, Araujo signed the renewed contract, and both parties were satisfied.

Barcelona will do everything for his continuity

Fast forward to the date and the value of the Uruguayan continues to soar. Barcelona are facing financial difficulties, and Araujo believes that accepting an offer from a different club would always be financially beneficial. 

However, it is not just about the money; it is about honouring the commitment the club made. It makes sense that, given this long-standing issue, addressing would make more sense over investing in new signings. 

As such, we have reported before that Barcelona want to end his saga before the end of the season and work is already being carried out within the team.