Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is facing an uncertain future just months after signing a new contract with club, with reports suggesting talks over a move away will be held in the summer.
Araujo was heavily linked with an exit before he penned a fresh long-term deal in January that runs until the summer of 2031. Bayern Munich, Juventus, Chelsea and even Manchester United were rumoured at the time to be interested in the Uruguay international.
But that deal contains a surprising release clause that could facilitate a summer transfer.
Having not impressed during Tuesday night's crushing Champions League semi-final defeat at the hands of Inter, Araujo is seen as bottom of the pile when it comes to Barcelona centre-backs, behind Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Eric Garcia and even Andreas Christensen.
AS now reports that Deco's "promise" to Araujo when his contract, described as "artificial" to tide things over until the summer, was signed is a plan to assess the situation again if he wasn't happy and find a way to secure him a move.
Araujo himself is termed by MARCA as "fed up" with the criticism directed towards him, particularly in the wake of the Inter clash, where he was seen at fault for the decisive late goals.
"Do you think I lacked forcefulness?" Araujo remarked to a reporter at San Siro.
"In the first one, I'm marking him; it's the striker's luck that he puts it right there. I'm ahead. In the other one, it's clear that I'm very strong in one-on-one situations and I have to be better there. But in football, if he covers, you can solve that play."
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