Barcelona defender and captain Ronald Araujo has been granted an indefinite leave of absence by the Spanish club at his request, according to reports.
The Uruguayan was not part of the matchday squad in Saturday’s 3-1 La Liga home win against Alaves, with manager Hansi Flick saying he is absent due to a «stomach virus».
Araujo’s last appearance came in Barcelona’s 3-0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea last Tuesday, when he was sent off for a second yellow card a minute before half-time after a clumsy trip on Marc Cucurella.
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According to a report in The AthleticsBarcelona sporting director Deco met with Araujo’s agents on Monday and gave the 28-year-old time to step away from football, with the club promising to give him the time he needs.
«It’s a private situation, that’s all I want to say. And please, if you can respect that, I would appreciate it,» Flick told reporters on Monday.
There was no immediate response from Barcelona to a request for comment made outside normal business hours.
Barcelona, currently top of the table, will host fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Published on December 2, 2025
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