4 - Ronald Araújo

[Messi983]

Will be interesting if Pique retire and Roberto doesn't renew.
Stegen will surely get 3rd spot behind Busquets and Alba, but 1 slot will be available for real voting, and good chance it might goes to one of the younger players.

Just a thought of having Alba as a vice captain is scary as shit, lol. He shouldn't even be a 4th captain let alone anything more.

We can think whatever we want about Pique but at least he has a big personality (probably too big for club's best interest in most cases). Despite being here for a decade Alba is just a nobody and someone who crumbles under any kind of pressure. Clearly not someone youngsters should look at as a role model.

We really shouldn't select captains based on seniority as it's clear some players are here much longer than they should be. Won't happen but if we sign Azpilicueta I'd make him a vice-captain immediately. He has more leadership presence than our veterans together.

Anyway, I just hope we'll get more actual personality into our locker room this summer, regardless of who captains are on paper. We have youngsters like Gavi and Araujo with the right mind set but they need someone to lean on and lead them when they'll struggle if we want them to develop properly. Right now kids are mostly the ones who are carrying old/slow legs of Pique and Busi and mentally fragile Alba.

 

[Gnidrologist]

Selling Araujo for 60 and buying kounde for 70 is a no brainer

Are you fucking out of your mind or am i missing sarcasm here?

 

[iniestaGOAT]

Are you fucking out of your mind or am i missing sarcasm here?

Whats wrong with you?

 

[Gnidrologist]

No u. You want to sell not only best Barca defender, but in current form, one of the best in world to buy someone inferior in all but ball playing?

 

[JamDav1982]

Araujo is nowhere near one of best defenders in world at moment.

 

[Gnidrologist]

He's near unpenetrable for forwards running at him and wins everything in the air. Almost ultimate CB package, if he improves positioning so not Van Dyik level, but second tier certainly.

 

[iniestaGOAT]

No u. You want to sell not only best Barca defender, but in current form, one of the best in world to buy someone inferior in all but ball playing?

Kounde is inferior to araujo?

Bro what are you smoking

 

[Gnidrologist]

Reality.
Also, why not both? It would be retarded to give away gem like him. As dumb as the idea of selling likes of Pedri or even De Jong. We have really lacked quality in recent times and they represent rare exception.

 

[te amo barca]

Araujo is nowhere near one of best defenders in world at moment.

Too young for that. I think he is the best in his age bracket. His competition is De Ligt, Bastoni, Kounde, Upamecano, Romero, Fofana, Konate.. anyone else? Give it 1-2 seasons and he should definitely be considered one of the best in the world, assuming Barca also see some form of success.

 

[iniestaGOAT]

Reality.
Also, why not both? It would be retarded to give away gem like him. As dumb as the idea of selling likes of Pedri or even De Jong. We have really lacked quality in recent times and they represent rare exception.

I was responding to the poster who said they would pay 60m for him. If someone is stupid enough to pay 60m take it and run

 

[JamDav1982]

Too young for that. I think he is the best in his age bracket. His competition is De Ligt, Bastoni, Kounde, Upamecano, Romero, Fofana, Konate.. anyone else? Give it 1-2 seasons and he should definitely be considered one of the best in the world, assuming Barca also see some form of success.

Dont think can be claimed he is better than those even.

Has not proven that at any level or huge performances.

Likes of Kounde has shown far more and at a better level at moment as have most of those names.

Even at weekend Araujo could react quicker to first goal and loses header for second and those are things he is supposed to be good at let alone his passing.

He is work in progress that is starting to get over rated for what has shown.

 

[Gnidrologist]

I was responding to the poster who said they would pay 60m for him. If someone is stupid enough to pay 60m take it and run

Nein.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Relax. People forget how young Araujo is. Dijk same age was playing for Celtic. Calma calma amigos. Araujo is very young for a CB.

He is definitely not finished product and most of the CBs are not finished products at age 22. They keep improving with right mentality and training.

If he just fixes his biggest issues he is already a top defenseman. Then if he improves on his strengths, he is one of the best.


Super excited. Huge potential.

 

[behindbrowneyes]

What does best even mean? He is Barca's best defender and doing so at 22. Comparisons with players from other clubs are pointless as it is hard to contrast and compare how they'd do in Barca's setup. Being a CB at Barca is pretty tough. Not much protection from midfield and the high defensive line makes the team vulnerable for counter attacks.

Every defender makes mistakes and some of them lead to goals. There'll always be actions where one could've done better in hindsight. I've seen De Ligt, Kounde, Bastoni, Upamecano struggling and having a bad game. But yeah, I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

One of Araujo's greatest qualities is his mentality. He is a fighter, he is a winner and defense is lacking that since Puyol and Mascherano. Did they never do mistakes that led to goals? Of course they did. Araujo is on a good path, especially considering his age. Give him experience and he'll turn out great for years to come.

Another thing not mentioned yet if I have not read over: Araujo is a threat in front of the goal. He has scored 3 goals this season and was unlucky at numerous other attempts. Would've lost against Granada and Sevilla without that and his goal against Atletico came at an important moment too, making it 3-1 right before HT.

 

[Porque]

Relax. People forget how young Araujo is. Dijk same age was playing for Celtic. Calma calma amigos. Araujo is very young for a CB.

He is definitely not finished product and most of the CBs are not finished products at age 22. They keep improving with right mentality and training.

If he just fixes his biggest issues he is already a top defenseman. Then if he improves on his strengths, he is one of the best.


Super excited. Huge potential.

I recall Celtic fans always rated him very highly and said he would reach the top. Even so, he transferred for 15m to Southamption before Liverpool decided to pay 6x that.

We're lucky we have the conditions right now to be patient with Araujo. Another era, or 18 months earlier (think Todibo) and we might have discarded him. Similar to how Puyol was pretty bad when he broke through, and average at best in possession but with the heart of a lion.

Never going to be amazing with the ball, but everything else can be worked on diligently, while his ballplaying will end up passable. Personally I wouldn't exchange Araujo for Kounde, as 1, in a different setup (think EPL or Simeone) Araujo would be praised even moreso as a world class central defence talent, and 2, I prefer the character of Araujo which we lack across the back line.

As another of the posters said, question has to always be who to replace Pique with and partner with Araujo, not replace. And on that question, I actually see high potential in Eric. He only lacks physique, but he has a build which with the right physical plan and diet will be fine for a LaLiga defender with 10+/- games in Europe. Which is a different ballgame to having the physique for 38 EPL games plus Europe.

Still, a third talent in the 23/26 age range to come in exchange for Umtiti, Lenglet would be needed. How about Skriniar? Contract up in 2023 and won of the top CBs in Europe.