Flick views Barcelona captain as fifth-choice option ahead of the new season – report | OneFootball

Barcelona have several issues to solve in terms of their squad ahead of the new season, both in terms of signings and sales.

There are some players whose prominence has grown in the last 12 months, and there are others whose has dropped off a cliff in the same period.

One such player who had a very difficult 2025/26 season was captain Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan had many moments to forget over the course of the campaign.

Perhaps the most telling one came at Stamford Bridge, when the captain was sent off following a horrendous tackle. Subsequently, he took a sabbatical to get his mind right.

Although he did show signs of improvement after returning from the sabbatical, his future in Blaugrana still remains very much up in the air.

Dropping down the pecking order

Flick sees Araujo as his fifth-choice defender. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

According to AS, Flick sees Araujo as useful and respects his status in the dressing room as first captain, but currently considers him the fifth centre-back in the squad, behind Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen.

That is a major shift for a player who was once viewed as Barça’s defensive leader.

Araujo has physical power, recovery speed and personality, but Flick’s structure appears to demand different qualities at centre-back: cleaner build-up, sharper positioning and constant coordination in a high line.

This should not be framed as a lack of respect. Araujo has given Barcelona a lot, and the club also supported him through a very difficult personal period after he stepped away because of mental health issues.

However, football moves quickly. Pau Cubarsi has grown into a central figure, and Barça’s defensive hierarchy no longer belongs automatically to Araujo.

The 2026/27 season will be difficult for Araujo. (Photo by Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images)

The financial side makes the situation even more complicated. Araujo is not a low-cost squad player. If he is now seen as the fifth choice while earning a significant salary, Barcelona have to study the case carefully.

It is now up to Araujo

For now, neither the club nor the player are said to be pushing for an exit. Still, he has a decision to make.

If he stays, he must accept that his role has changed and fight his way back with performances, not status. That means adapting to Flick’s demands, whether as a centre-back, right-back or emergency option.

Barcelona also need to be honest with him. Araujo deserves clarity. If another defender arrives and his pathway narrows further, a sale might become a necessity.

This is a difficult one from the club’s perspective and for the player himself. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Araujo and how Barça handle this situation involving one of the leaders of their dressing room.