Barcelona waiting for defensive heavyweight’s response to renewal offer amid serious interest

Ronald Araujo is one of the players at FC Barcelona whose future has been called into question heading into the summer transfer window.

While there are simply no doubts about his quality and importance, it is no secret that Barça need to sell at least two big players in the summer to sign their desired targets.

As such, Araujo’s name has emerged as a possible departee, owing to the fact that he is a top player with strong interest and ability to command a big transfer fee.

Barcelona waiting for Araujo decision

Barcelona, though, intend to keep hold of Ronald Araujo beyond the current season and have even tabled a renewal offer for the Uruguayan international.

Now, SPORT reports that Barça are waiting for a final decision from their third captain on the matter of the renewal, with the expectation being that he responds this month.

The Blaugrana are intent on retaining Araujo’s services, but understand that the defender and his entourage might not entirely be convinced by the renewal proposal tabled.

As per the report, Barça presented a proposal to extend Araujo’s contract until 2028 with a salary increase.

Will he stay or leave? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, the figures being offered do not leave the central defender in the high range of the Blaugrana’s current salaries because the wage limit is tight and it is impossible to consider a top-level increase at this time. 

It is a final offer with very little room to improve in which the president, Joan Laporta, has even intervened to try to convince a footballer who has always made efforts to continue at Camp Nou.

Other clubs interested

However, Araujo has clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United who continue to insist on his signing heading into the summer window.

Those clubs would be in a position to not only replicate but improve Barcelona’s contract proposal and that could tempt Araujo’s entourage to convince him to consider a transfer.

Araujo, for his part, has shown no indication that he is considering leaving, but the same cannot be said of those around him.

Araujo and Barça want to put an end to this uncertainty before the player goes to the Copa America.

If there is no agreement, the Blaugrana would be in a position to place him on the market with the player’s OK. And, from here, everyone involved would try to finalize the best operation for all parties.