Barcelona worried as €80m-rated key star’s agents drag their heels over contract renewal

Ronald Araujo has been in the headlines in the past few weeks as his future at FC Barcelona has been called into question heading into the summer.

It has been reported in the past that the Blaugrana could be open to selling the Uruguayan centre-back owing to the club’s need to generate funds and improve their Financial Fair Play situation.

Barça, for their part, have been eager to renew his contract and have been trying to negotiate a new deal, with new manager Hansi Flick also urging the club to make it a priority.

Barcelona concerned

However, now, AS reports that officials at FC Barcelona are having some concerns about the situation of Araujo and his contract renewal.

It is the Catalans have yet to agree a date and time with the club captain’s agents to meet with the aim of agreeing a renewal.

This procrastination on the part of Araújo’s representatives is starting to eat away at the club’s executives, who suspect that they have an important offer in their hands.

Araujo’s contract talks not progressing. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

There is a feeling that with this strategy Araujo’s agents are trying to gain time so that Barcelona are forced to improve their offer for the player they represent.

The Uruguayan international, who is currently training with his national team for the Copa America, has given orders to his agents to make a move. However, so far, there has been no movement in this regard.

What if no agreement is reached?

This situation is beginning to worry the club, who do not want to turn this case into the soap opera of the summer.

What Barcelona are very clear about is that if the agents do not agree to the conditions of the new contract, the possibility of a departure would be open, as long as the offer reaches a relevant amount: the minimum fee would be €80 million.

Right now, the ball is in Araujo’s court. Barcelona are counting on the centre-back, and even more so since the arrival of Flick, but not at any price.

If the defender’s camp tries to squeeze and demand exorbitant figures, with the excuse of having a big offer in their hands, the club will urge them to open the doors to a transfer that satisfies all parties.