Ronald Araújo’s long-term future at Barcelona still needs to be clarified as he continues to be linked to Manchester United. The defender’s contract expires in 2023.
Earlier reports indicated the Red Devils are best positioned to sign him after making a salary offer to him.
On Thursday, Sky Deutschland stated Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cryuff had a meeting with Chelsea star Antonio Rüdiger’s agent, Sahr Senesie.
AS have relayed Sky’s report and they add the Catalan club are probing Thomas Tuchel’s man in the event the Uruguay international doesn’t end up renewing at the Camp Nou.
When AS approached Barca for an update about the meeting with the agent of the Blues defender, the Blaugrana sources stated “Rüdiger only has a place if Piqué or Araújo leave.”
Gerard Piqué, for his part, has confirmed he will not retire after this season and therefore, ‘all eyes are on’ the South American, whose future at the club ‘remains up in the air’.
Xavi Hernández’s side have offered him a deal that includes a €4m per year salary and this ‘improvement is considered substantial’, since he earns €1m per season.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s proposal exceeds €8m per year, meaning they are ready to pay him double than what Barca are currently offering.
Araújo’s agent has leaked information about Manchester United’s offer and he did this as a tactic to put pressure on the Spanish giants to improve their offer. Xavi’s side have responded, not by making a new proposal, but by holding talks with Rüdiger’s representatives.
AS states: ‘The sensation conveyed by this urgent meeting between Rüdiger and Barcelona is of a setting that interests all parties. On the one hand, to the German player, to stir up the hornet’s nest, and, on the other, to the Catalan entity, to send a clear message to Araújo’s agents that they have other alternatives in the event that they remain so intransigent in their requests’.
It’ll be interesting to see what Araújo and his camp will do next, especially considering that Manchester United are in the picture to sign him after supposedly making an offer.
