Juventus is reportedly finalizing the acquisition of Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo, with the player expected in Turin next week for medical examinations and contract signing, reports Goal Italia.
Araújo has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, raising concerns among Juventus supporters about his reliability.
Since joining Barcelona’s first team in 2020, Araújo has suffered 16 injuries, causing him to miss 46 out of 213 competitive matches—approximately 21% of games during that period.
His most recent setback was a tendon injury in his right hamstring sustained in July 2024 during the Copa América, which sidelined him for nearly five months.
Despite these concerns, Juventus is keen to bolster its defense following injuries to key players like Gleison Bremer.
Araújo’s defensive skills, including one-on-one situations, aerial duels, and speed, are seen as valuable assets to strengthen the team’s backline.
The deal is expected to be a loan with an option to buy, providing Juventus with an opportunity to assess Araújo’s fitness and performance before committing to a permanent transfer.
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Araújo, a 25-year-old Uruguayan center-back, has been a key figure for Barcelona since his promotion to the first team in 2020.
Despite his talent and defensive prowess, his career has been marred by frequent injuries, leading to significant absences from the pitch.
In the 2024/25 season, Araújo was sidelined for approximately 146 days following surgery for a torn left biceps femoral tendon, an injury sustained during the Copa América in July 2024.
This prolonged absence caused him to miss 22 matches. His return to action occurred on January 4, 2025, during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey victory against Barbastro.
This recent injury is part of a broader pattern. Since 2018, Araújo has experienced multiple injuries, resulting in significant time away from the field:
- 2023/24: Two injuries leading to 39 days out and eight matches missed.
- 2022/23: Three injuries causing 110 days of absence and 23 matches missed.
- 2021/22: Five injuries resulting in 63 days out and 17 matches missed.
- 2020/21: Three injuries leading to 78 days of absence and 21 matches missed.
- 2019/20: One injury causing 14 days out, though no matches were missed.
- 2018/19: One injury resulting in seven days out and three matches missed.
In total, Araújo has suffered 16 different injuries over the past five years, causing him to miss 46 out of Barcelona’s 213 competitive matches during that period, equating to approximately 21% of games.
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