The Italian powerhouse Juventus has had their eye on Ronald Araujo for a while, and in the summer of 2024 they came very close to signing him. The Uruguayan defender was a top transfer target for the Bianconeri that year as they looked to bolster their defence and bolster their roster.
Barcelona was able to persuade Araujo to stay with the team, though, and he later signed a contract extension, pledging his immediate future to the Catalan team. Barcelona has taken a more lenient stand on Araujo’s future in recent months. Due to the necessity to balance its finances and the increasing rivalry for defensive spots, the club is apparently more receptive to the concept of a transfer.
Additionally, Araujo has been having more and more trouble getting consistent playing time, which has fuelled rumours of a possible transfer. Barcelona knows that their defensive unit already has enough cover, so they would want to keep him for squad depth, but selling him might help raise much-needed money.
Juventus is priced out of a deal for Barcelona man
Juventus sees the signing of Araujo as an opportunity to add a physically strong and extremely talented defender who might be a mainstay in their defence for many years to come. However, the club is hesitant to pay Barcelona’s asking price, particularly considering the necessity to properly distribute funds among other squad areas.
Premier League teams have thus been able to take advantage of the situation, and a number of them have expressed genuine interest in the Uruguayan international. An English move seems more likely since English clubs are better equipped financially to satisfy Barcelona’s demands.
Juventus is still impressed with Araujo’s skills, but they have found it challenging to pursue the trade further due to the financial constraints of the agreement. It appears that the Uruguayan defender will stick with the Premier League instead of Serie A until Barcelona drops its asking price or Juventus makes a large profit from player sales.
