When it comes to the transfer market, FC Barcelona are not the side they used to be. While they continue to possess a certain draw given how attractive a destination they are, they simply cannot financially back it up at times. For this reason, the immediate future of Barcelona may need some sacrifices.
These ‘sacrifices’ could possibly arrive in the form of player sales that are uncomfortable for the club. Many players in the team are considered crucial for the future, but these same stars are the ones who could attract the biggest transfer fees if they were to be sold.
One of these players is undoubtedly Ronald Araujo, with the Uruguayan defender one of Barça’s mainstays. Aged 24, the Barcelona captain is among the world’s elite central defenders. Moreover, he is also one of the club’s most prominent bets for the future.
Simultaneously, he is also a player who generates great European interest. Both Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reportedly, are after his signature and would go to great lengths to acquire it. As such, according to SPORT, this now becomes Barça’s greatest dilemma for the summer.
For the Catalan club, the big question now is whether to sell Araujo or keep him. From a sporting perspective, the Uruguayan is absolutely crucial and deemed as one of the untouchables of the team. However, from a financial perspective, he is one of the team’s most lucrative assets to sell.
Both Bayern and United could reportedly go up to the €100 million mark for his transfer, and possibly even exceed it. A departure of that value could solve a lot of problems for Barcelona, and that is why it becomes so enticing. In case the sale of Barça Studios also takes place, the Catalans will need an adequate injection of cash to be able to purchase players in the summer.
Thus, there is great talk about mainly selling players who are not exactly important in the team. However, such players also rarely account for big money moves, and thus some uncomfortable departures may also have to take place.
At the moment, the club hopes to keep a hold on their captain and star defender. Bayern already tried to lure him away in January, but neither Barça nor the Uruguayan were on board with that idea.
Now, even as Barcelona look to possibly offer Araujo a more lucrative contract, it would not be enough to match the tremendous offers possibly made by the sides from Germany and England.
