Barcelona defender set to take next step in recovery; targeting return in early 2026 | OneFootball

FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is currently taking a break away from the game to deal with mental stress and anxiety issues.

The Uruguayan international came under a lot of criticism after his early sending-off in the game against Chelsea in November, which the Catalans lost 3-0.

Following that, Araujo, with the support of Barça, decided to go on a temporary break and focus on his mental health recovery.

The Barcelona second captain has gone on to miss six matches in all competitions since, with there being no set date for his return.

Araujo to take the next step in his recovery

Now, according to ESPN, Araujo plans to continue his recovery process at the facilities of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) with the aim of rejoining Hansi Flick’s Barcelona squad in the early days of 2026.

Earlier this month, the 26-year-old centre-back had travelled to Israel in an attempt to reconnect with himself, driven by his strong Christian faith.

Ronald Araujo targeting a return early next year. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

As per the report, the ‘objective has been met’, and Araujo has now decided to take another step forward in his recovery by working at the AUF’s facilities.

The Barcelona captain flew to Uruguay last weekend with an individual training plan designed by the club’s technical staff, with the intention of being available again to Flick at the start of the new year.

Barcelona face Villarreal on Sunday in their final match of 2025 before a break that runs until January 3. Flick’s side will then take on Espanyol in their first game of 2026, with reports suggesting that Araujo could be back for that clash.

However, the defender’s return for the Catalan derby is not guaranteed, and for now, there is no specific return date for Araujo to resume competitive action.