As the 2025-26 season concludes for Barcelona, many players are taking time to reflect on the past ten months. Club captain Ronald Araujo is among them, having navigated a particularly demanding campaign.
Araujo was sidelined for approximately two months, from November to January, due to mental health challenges. He revealed that the situation reached a critical point after his red card against Chelsea in the Champions League. As reported by Marca, Araujo shared, “It was a culmination of things. I knew something was wrong with me because I wasn’t feeling well. I wasn’t happy. At home, I wasn’t the husband or the father they needed. I had been like this for a long time, accumulating issues without discussing them, keeping everything to myself, until I reached a breaking point. That incident against Chelsea was the catalyst for me to reconsider and realize that something was happening to me. I knew I needed help and to work through that difficult period.”
He elaborated on the confluence of factors, stating, “These things build up. It’s not just on a footballing level; there are also situations from childhood that have grown. The incident against Chelsea was crucial. I already had a yellow card, and I couldn’t afford to react that way. It was clear my head wasn’t in the right place. I remember going to the locker room alone and saying, ‘Enough.’ I realized I needed to speak with my wife, with the club, and ask for help. It has been one of the best decisions of my life.”
Araujo Shares Barcelona’s Supportive Reaction
Araujo also spoke about how the club responded when he decided to take time away from the game. He expressed being deeply moved by the support he received from his teammates and the club’s leadership.
“It was tremendous. I was very surprised because they accepted it in a very natural and respectful manner. Deco, the first person I spoke to, as well as Alejandro, Bojan, the president, and everyone close to him, behaved exceptionally well. I will always be grateful to them, to Barça, and to my teammates, who were instrumental after I made the decision. They encouraged me, sent me messages, and trusted me. It was incredibly positive and a great motivation to keep moving forward.”
Despite speculation linking him with a move away from Barcelona, Araujo confirmed that he is feeling much better and is looking forward to the future, starting with his participation in this summer’s World Cup for Uruguay.
“I feel very good and very happy. I enjoy playing football and training. I see things from a different perspective. It hasn’t been an easy season, and I’ve had to take on a different role, but I can tell you it’s one of the seasons where I’ve learned and grown the most. I’ve been able to work on myself, I’ve learned to see things differently and to put them in perspective. I believe in myself a lot, and I feel my best years are ahead of me.”
