‘One centre back will leave, but’… Deco rules out the departure of 26-year-old Barcelona captain this summer | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are looking to strengthen their team for the upcoming 2025-26 season, as they are keen to eliminate some of the weaknesses that were present in the last season.

For this purpose, they have already signed the contract with the Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia after paying his €25 million release clause. For now, they are being closely linked with the Athletic Club forward Nico Williams, and everything indicates they might sign him in the coming few weeks.

However, to register these new signings with La Liga, the Blaugranes will have to generate a significant FFP margin, and for this purpose, they will have to sell some of their current players.

Ronald Araujo a good candidate for a sale

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

One player who is not expected to have a very prominent role in the Catalan team for the next season and whose departure can bring in a significant amount of money in Barcelona coffers is the centre-back Ronald Araujo.

Owing to these factors, he has been linked with a move away from the club, and these links have been further strengthened by the fact that his release clause is going to decrease to €60 million from 1st to 15th July.

Deco rules out the defender’s departure

However, the Barcelona Sporting Director Deco made it clear that the Uruguayan is not going to leave the team. He was talking in an interview with La Vanguardia (h/t Fabrizio Romano), when he confirmed that a defender will have to leave, but ruled out Araujo’s departure.

In this regard, the Portuguese official said:

With these comments, Deco has clearly ruled out a departure for Ronald Araujo, who lost his starting spot last season, as Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez were the starting pair for Hansi Flick in the centre of the defence.

Thus, even though Deco’s plans for the defender are now known, it remains to be seen how Hansi Flick uses him next season.