Juventus have reignited their pursuit of Barcelona centre‑back Ronald Araujo, with new reports surfacing that manager Igor Tudor is firmly pushing for the Uruguayan’s arrival this summer.
The Turin giants are believed to be preparing an initial approach in the €25–30 million range — a figure that reflects their ambition, though may fall short of Catalan expectations.
Juventus previously expressed interest in Araujo in January, exploring a loan‑with‑option deal that could have amounted to around €30 million.
That preliminary bid was rebuffed with Barcelona making it clear they would only consider offers around €70 million–€80 million.
Barcelona recently secured Araujo’s future, extending his contract until June 2031 and embedding a release clause set at €65 million from July — rising again to €80 million next January.
This clause means Juventus now know the exact benchmark needed to challenge for the defender’s signature.
Despite the strong renewal, Araujo has signalled unease over his role under Hansi Flick, with manager Deco reportedly needing to use salary improvements and assurances to persuade him to stay.
Still, whispers persist that he quietly hopes for more regular minutes — a factor that could sway his decision in Turin’s favour.
For Juventus, history has already shown their willingness to invest. Earlier this year they were prepared to spend €50 million and were open to negotiation via a loan‑to‑buy structure.
Now, with Tudor at the helm and injuries to key defenders, the Italian club appear ready to reignite that interest.
Barcelona, meanwhile, face a dilemma. With Deco admitting the club may need to offload a centre‑back, Araujo and Andreas Christensen are under scrutiny.
Yet accepting a €25–30 million offer seems unlikely, given the €65 million clause and Araujo’s status as one of Barca’s top assets.
Ultimately, Juventus will have to decide if they can bridge the gap — and Barcelona whether they’ll let one of their young leaders leave for less than their valuation.
With Araujo pushing for clarity on his future, both clubs will enter negotiations fully aware that this summer could define his career path.
