Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is anticipated to be out for up to two months following a hamstring injury sustained in Uruguay’s Copa America match against Brazil.
The La Liga club is already concerned about midfielder Pedri, who is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks due to a knee injury he suffered during Spain’s Euro 2024 quarter-final victory over Germany.
With Pedri’s injury news still fresh, Barcelona fans were dismayed on Sunday when Araujo limped off the field during Uruguay’s penalty shootout win against Brazil.
Araujo exited the pitch visibly distraught, and Mundo Deportivo reports that his recovery could take as long as two months.
Earlier last season, Araujo had an injury in the same area and was out for five weeks, but there are concerns that this issue is more severe, necessitating a longer recovery period.
“I think Ronald Araujo’s injury is a muscular one, which will be confirmed tomorrow when the tests are done,” said Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa, who suggested that football’s increasingly packed schedule might be a factor in the defender’s injury.
“It’s an option that cannot be ignored,” Bielsa continued. “It’s important to note that when the full season ends – the one that started in August and ended in June in Europe – players accumulate between 40 and 50 games. Then comes the challenge of playing twice a week.
“All elite players in Europe play twice a week. It’s one thing to do it regularly for nine months and another to repeat it in the 10th and 11th month.”
Reports from Spain indicate that FIFA will financially compensate Barcelona for Araujo’s injury, potentially providing over €700,000 during his expected absence.
Before his injury, Araujo was linked with a potential summer transfer, with Bayern Munich and Manchester United named as possible destinations.
However, his chances of leaving Camp Nou have likely diminished due to this latest setback.
