Barcelona‘sโ araujo to Miss Atletico Clash, coach Cites “Private Situation”
BARCELONA, Spain – โฃBarcelona defender Ronald Araujo will be โunavailable for Tuesday’sโ La โขLiga โขmatchโค againstโ Atletico โMadrid, confirmed manager Hansi Flick on Monday. โขWhile the club initiallyโค cited a stomach virus โฃfor Araujo’s absence in Saturday’sโฃ 3-1 victory โover Alaves, Flickโค indicated the current โคsituation is a separate, personalโ matter.
“Araujo is not ready,” Flick stated during a press conference.”It’s a private situation.”
Spanish โคmedia reportsโค suggest Araujo’s representatives informed Barcelona officials on Monday that the player requires time awayโข to address his mental health.โฃ Flick declined to elaborate further, requesting media respect for Araujo’s privacy.
The absence of theโค central defender comes after โฃa challenging week โfor Araujo, โคwhich โincludedโ a red card received shortly before halftime duringโฃ Barcelona’s 3-0 โChampions League loss โto Chelsea.
Currently โคleading La Liga with 34 points โafter 14 rounds, Barcelona holds a one-point โขadvantageโข over Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid trails in fourth place, โthree points โขbehind โthe Catalan club.
Looking ahead to the match, Flick acknowledgedโ the challenge โposed byโข Atletico. “We โknow we are up against โคa โคfantastic teamโ with โa lot of quality,”โฃ he said. “It will beโ a tough encounter.”