The FC Barcelona squad is currently in the USA, where they will face off with other top European clubs in several friendly matches.
Training in Los Angeles, one of the team’s members, Ronald Araujo, spoke to the media and provided his opinion on a number of matters related to himself and the club, which have been reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Araujo could be one of the team’s captains after the departure of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. In this context, talking about his winning mentality and character, the player commented:
“I consider myself a leader; I feel like an important player with character. Whether I wear the armband or not, I embody natural leadership, and that won’t change. It’s an honor to hear people talk about me, but being a leader isn’t solely up to me; it also depends on my teammates and the circumstances. I feel like I am a leader because of my personality, and I will continue to be one.”
He also commented on the state of his contract registration, claiming: “I am very calm. I made it clear that all I wanted was to stay here. It depends on the club now; I have to focus on improving myself.”
He also disclosed what Xavi had communicated to the team at the start of the season. He said: “It’s all about having a good pre-season, working hard to improve compared to last season, especially in Europe, and aiming to go far in all competitions. High-quality players are joining the team, and they will undoubtedly contribute a lot to our improvement.”
Mulling over the chances of the Barcelona team in the Champions League, the player was ambitious as he expressed that “We need to take it step by step, be humble, and remember where we come from. We will fight for the Champions League because it’s our main goal, but with humility.”
He also commented on Messi’s transfer to Inter Miami after it was expected that the Argentine would rejoin the Catalan club. Araujo commented, “I didn’t watch the presentation. Naturally, I wanted him to come, like all true fans, but he decided to join a big club. That’s fine, and I’m happy for him and his family, which is the most important thing. I wish him all the best.”
Lastly, he refrained from giving a verdict on whether Barcelona or Real Madrid had the better squad, as he said, “They [Real Madrid] are a great team; they have always shown it and continue to prove it through their history. They will put up a fight, but we need to focus on ourselves and compete.”
