Barcelona rejected two offers worth €90 million for key defender in January

A report from Mundo Deportivo has emerged that Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich sent as many as two offers for Ronald Araujo in January, but Barcelona rejected both approaches as they are unwilling to sell the Uruguayan under any circumstances.

The 24-year-old stands out as one of the most coveted players within the current Barcelona squad and despite the financial challenges faced by the club, the Blaugrana are firm in their decision not to entertain the idea of letting him go.

Bayern’s first offer

During the January transfer market, Bayern aggressively pursued Araujo’s acquisition, but Barcelona firmly shut the door on any potential transfer. The German team went to great lengths, submitting two substantial offers amounting to €90 million. 

Initially, they went directly to his agent rather than contacting Barcelona, offering  €70 million to the agent, coupled with an additional €20 million in variable payments, signalling a significant increase in the overall value.

Despite this generous proposal, which could have boosted Barcelona’s economy, the team from Catalonia remained firm in their rejection.

Ronald Araujo is committed to Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

What was the second offer?

Upon facing an outright rejection, Bayern persisted and presented a revised offer, elevating the fixed price to €80 million, with an extra €10 million in variables. Once again, Barcelona responded with a resounding ‘no.’

The Bavarian club’s relentless pursuit of Araujo reached such heights that even their coach, Thomas Tuchel, actively engaged in the signing process. Tuchel personally reached out to the Uruguayan centre-back, demonstrating the extent of Bayern’s determination in their pursuit.

Renewal in sight?

It goes without saying that Barcelona really value Araujo. They see him as a key player for both the present and the future of the team. 

The Uruguayan defender is not only reliable in defence, whether playing as a centre-back or a full-back, but also stands out for his winning attitude and influence among teammates on and off the field.

After having rejected Bayern Munich in January, Even though he has a contract until June 2026 and a hefty release clause of €1 billion, the club doesn’t want to take any chances.

They plan to start negotiations soon to extend Araujo’s contract, ensuring he doesn’t reach the end of next season without a renewal.