Ronald Araujo reflects on mental health battles, difficult season: ‘I knew something wasn’t right’ | OneFootball

Ronald Araujo had a difficult 2025-26 campaign at FC Barcelona, and his season was highlighted by a long break he took from the sport to recover on a mental level.

His setback first began when Barcelona took on Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League and he was shown a red card, one which got fans fired up on social media and showed him the ugly side of the internet.

The heavy mental pressure and fatigue got to the player, and he was graciously granted an indefinite leave by the club to recover and come back stronger.

Eventually, he made a comeback close to a month and a half later in Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup finale victory, but his involvement remained minimal throughout the season.

Araujo speaks on his hiatus

Speaking to The Athletic via SPORT in a recent interview, the Barcelona captain reflected on the recently concluded season and how he fell to his lowest point as a professional footballer during its course.

“I knew something wasn’t right,” he began, speaking about how he felt after the backlash on him commenced after his red card against Chelsea.

He then opened up on how his family faced death threats and how it was a very low level for people to stoop to attack one’s family to get through a message.

Araujo experienced a difficult season. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

“Since they couldn’t get to me directly because I don’t look at social media, they looked for other ways.”

The player then recalled how it took a lot of courage to admit his situation to the club hierarchy and how he was eternally grateful to them for understanding his situation and supporting him with an indefinite leave.

“It’s not easy to tell a club like Barça, ‘Look, this is happening to me. I need help. I need to stop and step away.'”

“I did it without fear. I’m extremely grateful because they took it very seriously and helped me so much,” he added.

Thanking the fans for showering love on him after his return late in the year, Araujo spoke on how he saw two sides of the world.

“Hearing the fans chant ‘Uruguayo, Uruguayo’ moved me deeply. There are two worlds: the world of social media, which is crazy, and the real world.”

On last season and his future at the club

Araujo fully committed to Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The captain then reflected on how last season flew by for him with minimal minutes but insisted that he did not regret one moment in hindsight.

“Even though I haven’t played as many minutes, this has been the season in which I’ve learned the most. I’ve grown enormously mentally.”

“I’ve learned to be a better husband, a better father, to see things differently and put them into perspective,” he added.

He then made an open appeal for fans and the media to understand that footballers are humans too, and that they too have limits and a personal life beyond what is seen on the field.

“People think that because we’re footballers and earn a lot of money, we don’t have worries. But we do. Many things happen in the football world, and they build up, creating stress.”

Finally, he opened up on his future at Barcelona and reassured that his best years and version were still ahead of him.

“I feel very good in Barcelona. I’m very happy here. I’m not afraid of facing anyone because I have great confidence in myself.”

“I believe my best years are still ahead of me, and I’ll face them with renewed maturity,” he added.