Barcelona president Joan Laporta has moved to throw the club’s full backing behind under-fire Ronald Araújo.
This of course comes amid an altogether difficult last week for the Uruguayan.
Defender Araújo has seen his name dominate the headlines across Spain since his latest high-profile mistake on the continent last Tuesday.
En route to Barcelona being put to the sword in alarming fashion at Chelsea, Araújo was given his marching orders during the first-half for a frankly needless 2nd yellow card.
The 26-year-old has since been heavily affected by the criticism raining down on him from all corners of the media, forced to request time away from Hansi Flick’s squad to recover mentally.
Speaking during an interview with La Vanguardia (as cited by Diario Sport) on Thursday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Araújo’s situation was put to the aforementioned Joan Laporta.
And Barca’s president made use of the opportunity to launch a stern defence of the stopper, explaining:
“About Araújo, we have to encourage him; I have spoken to him and he showed me appreciation and that he was motivated. I think he can be motivated again; We have to let the professionals act. He is a very sensitive man, but he knows that the club is helping him; he is our captain.
“We need him, he always responds, he has had the misfortune of being sent off in England; The first card was not and after that the expulsion affected him a lot.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
