Juventus suffer huge Ronald Araujo transfer blow

Ronald Araujo has decided to stay at Barcelona, ending Juventus’ hopes of securing one of their main transfer targets, according to multiple reports.

The strong pressure from Deco, the sporting director of the Blaugrana, seems to have played a crucial role in the Uruguayan defender’s decision.

In recent days, there was much talk about Araujo possibly moving to Juventus, a team looking for a replacement for the injured defender Bremer.

However, according to an exclusive report by Mundo Deportivo (via Goal Italia), Deco managed to convince the player, who initially seemed poised to leave the Catalan club in January.

Now, Araujo not only stays with Barcelona but might also extend his contract, which is set to expire in 2026.

The decision to remain was also influenced by appeals from his teammates and coach Hansi Flick, who pushed for Araujo to stay at least until the end of the season.

Manager Hansi Flick acknowledged the situation, suggesting that Martínez’s injury might influence the decision to retain Araújo

Within the Barcelona squad, there was a concerted effort to encourage Araújo to stay. Teammates like Robert Lewandowski have been vocal, with Lewandowski reportedly telling Araújo, “You have to stay,” following a recent victory.

Moreover, despite the interest from Juventus, Araújo’s entourage has indicated that his primary preference is to continue with Barcelona. His agent, Andrés Espinosa, confirmed the offer from Juventus but clarified that the player’s first option remains Barça.

This development leaves Juventus in a difficult spot, forcing their sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli to reconsider options for the defensive department.

With Araujo’s departure now off the table, Juventus must start anew in their search for a central defender. After securing Alberto Costa and Randal Kolo Muani, Giuntoli has just days to find an adequate reinforcement.

The current names in contention are Antonio Silva, David Hancko, and Fikayo Tomori, but negotiations with their respective clubs do not look straightforward.

Following injuries to Bremer and Juan Cabal as well as potential departure of Danilo this January, Thiago Motta has only Federico Gatti and Pierre Kalulu as central defenders of position.

In case of emergency, the coach has already deployed Manuel Locatelli in that role, but Giuntoli has emphasized that acquiring at least one defender was the priority for the January transfer window.