Ronald Araújo asked Barcelona to let him step away and take care of his mental health, and as tough as that choice may be, it’s the clearest decision he could make right now. He’s physically fine, according to the player himself, but he needs time to recover after weeks of heavy criticism, headlines about decisive expulsions and an emotional load no elite athlete can carry alone. The information, revealed by two major Catalan newspapers, Mundo Desportivo among them, completely changes the public view of the Uruguayan’s absence, as he hasn’t trained since the 3–0 loss to Chelsea in London on November 25.
The break that exposes the pressure on Araújo
Barcelona stayed quiet when the first rumors surfaced, and only on Monday did Araújo meet with the club alongside his agents to explain the situation. Until then, the official version was a stomach virus, something temporary. The reality was different. The psychological impact of the red card at Stamford Bridge, which happened in the first half while the team was already losing 2–0, went far beyond the field. The criticism was harsh, relentless and very public, as always happens when Barcelona stumbles in big games. The difference is that Araújo was already carrying recent scars.
In 2024, he was sent off against PSG in the Champions League quarterfinals, with Barça leading 1–0. The team collapsed, lost 4–1 and was knocked out. That night, İlkay Gündogan didn’t spare him and said they handed over the win in the “easiest way.” Like it or not, that line stuck. For a defender who’s long been seen as part of the club’s rebuilding, every mistake took on double weight. The red card against Chelsea reopened a wound that clearly hadn’t healed.
Club’s silence and Hansi Flick’s request for respect
When asked about the Uruguayan’s absence, Hansi Flick didn’t dodge the question but kept everything private: “Não está preparado. É uma situação privada e não quero falar mais nada. Peço para que o respeitem, por favor. É o que eu posso e quero dizer.” His short, careful response made it clear this isn’t a physical issue, and it’s not disciplinary either. It’s a human matter.
And that’s exactly where Araújo’s situation speaks for itself. Elite players deal with criticism, nonstop pressure and unrealistic expectations, but no one is made of steel. When all of that piles up and starts to affect someone mentally, the fall is unavoidable. Araújo understood that before his body forced him to, and Barcelona, at least for now, seems willing to respect the time he asked for.