Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone keen on Barcelona defender | OneFootball

Barcelona could be set to make a number of significant sales this summer, which would massively help their finances. They have already received €11m from Ansu Fati joining AS Monaco, while there has also been talk of Marc Casado and Ferran Torres departing.

Furthermore, there is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Ronald Araujo, who is expected to drop down to fifth-choice central defender for the 2026-27 season due to Hansi Flick preferring to count on Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin and Andreas Christensen – and that’s before a possible new signing in the position.

Araujo has had a very difficult 12 months at club level, and to make matters worse, he failed to play a single minute at the 2026 World Cup due to a calf injury. He will be fit for the start of his pre-season next week, but there is every chance that he does not see out the rest of the summer as a Barcelona player, especially as MD have reported that Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone would like him in his squad.

Atleti have yet to replace Clement Lenglet after his move to Benfica, and with Jose Maria Gimenez also set to depart, Simeone will need new centre-backs in his squad. He’s identified Araujo as one of his preferred targets, although it is unclear at this stage whether the feeling is shared by sporting director Mateu Alemany.

Araujo could be used as part of Julian Alvarez deal

It could work out for Araujo to be included in a deal that sees Barcelona finally get their hands on Julian Alvarez. Up until now, Atleti have been clear that no players will be included in the operation, but knowing that Barcelona won’t spend too big, coupled with the uneasiness of keeping an unhappy player, could mean that a player-plus-cash proposal suits all parties – although Araujo himself would have to be open to joining Los Colchoneros, which is not certain.