Barcelona center back, Ronald Araujo, will undergo surgery for the hamstring injury he suffered with Uruguay at the 2024 Copa America. Reportedly, the player will be out for quite a long time after the operation.
Araujo suffered a hamstring injury while defending Uruguay against Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa America. At that time, Marcelo Bielsa’s team successfully eliminated their opponents on penalties 4-2.
The 25 year old player looked limping and was only able to play for 33 minutes before being replaced by Atletico Madrid player, Jose Gimenez.
Initial reports said that Araujo would take up to two to four months on the sidelines and would likely miss the start of the upcoming La Liga season with Barcelona.
According to the Sport report, surgery has become an option for Araujo after further tests confirmed the exact location of his hamstring tear.
Araujo is now expected to spend at least four months on the sidelines and is fighting to return before the end of 2024.
“Tests carried out at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper have shown that first team player Ronald Araujo has an injury to the hamstring tendon in his right thigh,” the club said in a statement.
“In the next few days, he will undergo surgical treatment by Dr. Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the Club’s medical service, in Turku. At the end of the treatment, a new medical statement will be given.”
This news is a big blow for Barcelona, who will now have to struggle without one of their main centre-backs for the first half of the new season.
Andreas Christensen and Pau Cubarsi are likely to start as Hansi Flick’s preferred centre-back partnership, although a decision must be made on Jules Kounde, a natural centre-back who spent last season at right-back.
Eric Garcia has also returned after an impressive loan spell with Girona, while Inigo Martinez is expected to leave and is not yet listed in the squad.
There have even been some suggestions that Barcelona could cash in on Araujo this summer.
The defender is undoubtedly one of their most valuable players and has been linked with Manchester United and Bayern Munich, although an injury to him would put an end to that speculation.
