Barcelona's defensive rock Ronald Araujo commits future to the club

The Uruguayan defender, who has been a mainstay in the Barcelona backline, confirmed his commitment to the club until June 2031.

"I feel a great deal of gratitude for all these years; I've always felt the affection," Araujo said after signing at the Camp Nou offices.

"People in the streets were asking me to stay, stay, which was tremendous, just like when fans chant 'Uruguayan' in the stadium, it's infectious. I'm happy because it means we're doing well, and I hope we'll have many celebrations."

Araujo didn't shy away from his aspirations, particularly his dream of lifting the Champions League trophy. "I'm happy and I hope these will be great years filled with titles, which are the most important thing," he said.

"I want to continue growing as a professional; I know how important I am and believe I can contribute a lot. We have something pending which is the Champions League, and that's the biggest goal we're going after."

The term 'happiness' was repeatedly used by the defender throughout the event. "I worked hard for this," he asserted.

The negotiations for Araujo's contract were not straightforward, taking over a year with talks occasionally reaching a deadlock.

Juventus had even tabled an offer for the player in January, but ultimately, Araujo decided to remain with Barcelona. "You can feel the trust the clubs have in you, and that's important because it means you're doing things right and the work is good," he affirmed.

Lastly, Araujo praised the blend of youth and experience within the Barcelona squad. "We have young teams but with a lot of talent and desire, and I can inspire them. We have young teams, but they're very good," he concluded.

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