Xavi has broken his silence on a player whose contract status could soon spark a bidding war between Man Utd and Man City.
Barcelona appeared to get themselves back on track in the winter window. Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore were all signed to give their forward line a much needed jolt.However, it is at the other end of the pitch in which they must next extinguish a fire.
Centre-half Ronald Araujo has quickly become a major player at the Camp Nou.
The 22-year-old Uruguayan has featured in every La Liga game for Barcelona this season in which he has been fit.
The vast majority of those outings have been from the off.However, Araujo’s current deal runs out in 2023 and Friday’s Euro Paper Talk revealed the two Manchester giants are looking to prise him away from Spain.
United are thought to be the frontrunners for the 22-year-old, with Marca stating that a big offer for the player is incoming.However, talk of a switch to City was ramped up this week after Pep Guardiola was pictured having dinner with Araujo’s agent Edmundo Kabchi.
Barcelona finances leave them vulnerableBoth of their hopes stem from Araujo’s contract status.
Barcelona wish to retain Araujo’s services, but their prior financial problems have thus far prevented them from lodging an adequate offer.Xavi insisted extending Araujo’s stay – and thus resisting interest from Manchester – is a “priority”. Furthermore, Xavi declared Barcelona will aim to tie Araujo down to new terms “as soon as possible.”
