Recent reports suggest that while Barcelona has been linked with Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, the Italian club is now showing interest in one of Barcelona’s own defenders, Ronald Araujo. After several seasons of speculation surrounding his future, Araujo’s position at the club has come into question following another season where he has struggled to secure a regular starting role.
It is understood that Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has put a halt to talks regarding Bastoni. While Sporting Director Deco has reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with the Italian international and has a general idea of the transfer fee, Flick is said to have reservations about Bastoni’s suitability for his tactical system.
Inter Milan Monitoring Ronald Araujo’s Situation This Summer
According to reports from CdS, cited by Sport, Inter Milan is actively monitoring Araujo’s situation. The Uruguayan defender is considered one of their primary targets for strengthening their defense this summer. It remains unclear whether Inter would consider including Araujo in a potential deal for Bastoni, should Barcelona’s manager give the go-ahead. In related news, Luka Vuskovic, another player on Barcelona’s radar, is also on Inter’s agenda.
Araujo’s Reluctance to Leave Barcelona
Despite the transfer speculation, Araujo has so far expressed no desire to depart from Barcelona. Flick is expected to meet with Araujo to discuss his future. The Uruguayan international has publicly stated his happiness at Camp Nou and is under contract with the club until 2030. However, Deco is undoubtedly aware that Araujo is one of the club’s higher earners, and he has featured minimally in the latter half of the season, even after his return from a mental health break.
The 27-year-old has found it challenging to gain Flick’s trust. Although he has made 37 appearances this year, scoring four goals, his total playing time amounts to only 1,570 minutes. Out of these appearances, only 15 were starts, and he was clearly behind Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, and Gerard Martin in the defensive pecking order.
