The upcoming games right after the international break will end up being crucial for FC Barcelona. La Blaugrana did not exactly end their last game on a positive note, and that defeat to Real Sociedad has created a rather tense feeling. However, the best way to overcome that feeling and leave it behind would be for Barcelona to start winning again.
To improve their chances of doing just that, it would be a welcome surprise to see their injured stars returning ahead of time and being able to help out in upcoming challenges. Unfortunately for Barcelona, however, they still have a rather exhaustive wait before that can happen.
Yet, on the brighter side of things, there definitely is some good news for the Catalan club to enjoy and look forward to. As highlighted by SPORT, 25-year-old Barcelona captain and Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo is already at an advanced stage of his recovery and he has been accelerating through his previously set deadlines.
Moreover, as per the same report, the South American defender is now working on returning as soon as possible for the team. While the game against Celta Vigo would reportedly come too soon for him, the subsequent games against Las Palmas, Mallorca, or Real Betis will better serve as potential return dates for the player.
Recently, he could even be seen having resumed training on the grass at the Ciutat Esportiva. Moreover, the intensity of his training was quite high as well, indicating that the player is quite close to making a full return for Hansi Flick’s side, even having been seen training with the ball at his feet as well.
Araujo’s return would be just the right kind of addition that the German coach would have been hoping for. Already stretched thin when it comes to options within the centre-back position, the load that has been put on Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi so far this season could end up being alleviated too with the Uruguayan’s return.