Deco meets with Barcelona captain’s agents amid delicate situation after Chelsea error | OneFootball

FC Barcelona defender and second captain Ronald Araujo is not going through the best of moments currently.

The 26-year-old centre-back was one of the chief culprits behind the team’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea last week in the UEFA Champions League, as he was sent off in the first half, leaving the Blaugrana at a disadvantage.

As has already been reported, Araujo has been severely affected mentally by the mistake. The centre-back even missed last weekend’s La Liga game against Alaves and will not be available to face Atletico Madrid either tomorrow.

Deco meets with Araujo’s agents

Amidst the tense situation, Barcelona sporting director Deco held a meeting with Ronald Araujo’s agents at the Ciutat Esportiva today, reports SPORT.

Indeed, Edoardo Crjnar and Edoardo Mazzolari met with Barcelona’s sporting director at midday following several days of uncertainty surrounding the Uruguayan and the noise generated after his red card against Chelsea.

Barcelona are navigating a tense context around Araujo, but several voices, including club president Joan Laporta, have publicly expressed their support for the defender.

Araujo has come under a lot of scrutiny. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Although the board acknowledges that the incident in London was a serious mistake, they insist that it does not change their overall assessment of the player.

They consider him a competitive leader and a footballer fully capable of remaining a reference point in the heart of the defence.

Barcelona’s confidence in Araujo is fully intact, and they stress that the European episode only reinforces their intention to support him at this moment.

Araujo did not take part in this morning’s session even though he was present at the Ciutat Esportiva, and addressing his situation in a press conference, manager Hansi Flick said:

“Ronald isn’t ready, it’s a private matter, and I don’t want to say any more. I’d ask you to respect that, it’s all I can and will say.”

Today’s meeting with Araujo’s agents is intended to review his current situation and align their positions after a few days dominated by intense external noise.

Both the player’s camp and Barcelona want calm and unity at a time when media attention around the Uruguayan has grown significantly.