Araujo returns as Barcelona celebrate Supercopa triumph and toss him in the air | OneFootball

Araujo made his Barcelona comeback on Sunday in the Supercopa de España final, weeks after stepping away for mental health reasons. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, his return framed a night in which Barcelona retained the trophy against Real Madrid.

He entered late in second-half added time, appearing to pray for strength before stepping on. After the final whistle and the trophy presentation in Saudi Arabia, team-mates tossed him in the air to mark his comeback.

He then shared an embrace with Joan Laporta and lifted the cup alongside the squad.

It was his first appearance since 25 November, when two yellow cards in about 10 minutes led to his dismissal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. In the aftermath, he faced heavy criticism and asked the club for a pause for mental health, a break the club confirmed.

The German coach Hansi Flick said at the time that Araujo was not ready, described it as a private matter and asked for respect. The Uruguayan defender undertook a personal recovery, travelling to the Holy Land to reconnect with his faith. A month later he has returned to the pitch to reclaim his place in the side.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo